Dress border
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Silk on silk
Dimensions
L. 16 x W. 11 1/2 inches 40.6 x 29.2 cm
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of The United Piece Dye Works, 1936
Accession Number
36.90.58
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Dress Border* from 19th-century France showcases the pinnacle of embroidered textile artistry, crafted in silk on silk. Measuring 16 by 11½ inches (40.6 x 29.2 cm), this piece was likely designed to adorn the hem or edges of an elegant gown, highlighting the era's obsession with luxurious fabrics and intricate detailing. Produced during a time when French fashion dominated Europe—think the opulent Second Empire under Napoleon III—it reflects the craftsmanship of anonymous ateliers that supplied haute couture houses. The medium of silk on silk allowed for shimmering effects and...