Design for the Embroidered Border of a Waistcoat
1790â1810
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1921-22-226
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing, titled *Design for the Embroidered Border of a Waistcoat dates to 1790–1810, a pivotal era bridging the late 18th early 19th centuries. Created by an unknown artist, it served as a preparatory sketch for ornate border of a gentleman's waistcoat—a staple of men's formal attire during the Federal period in America. Waistcoats, often richly embroidered, reflected social status and the neoclassical taste for refined elegance inspired by ancient motifs and European fashions. As a work in drawing medium, this piece highlights the meticulous planning behind textile arts. Artis...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...