Design for Two Embroidered or Woven Borders of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"
1800â1825
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1920-36-4
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing from 1800–1825 captures the refined artistry of Lyon’s renowned textile industry. Created by the Fabrique de Saint Ruf, one of the city’s celebrated silk manufacturers, the work serves as a preparatory design for two embroidered or woven borders. Rendered in the medium of drawing, it reveals the meticulous planning behind luxury fabrics that adorned clothing, furnishings, and ceremonial objects during the Napoleonic era and the early years of the Restoration. Lyon stood at the heart of European silk production at this time, blending traditional handcraft with emerging in...