Fragment
Unknown Artist
third quarter 18th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
a: 4 3/8 x 19 1/2 in. (11.1 x 49.5 cm) b: 8 x 7 in. (20.3 x 17.8 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Velvets
Culture
Italian or French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Nanette B. Kelekian, in honor of Olga Raggio, 2002
Accession Number
2002.494.26a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silk velvet fragment, dating to the third quarter of the 18th century, hails from either Italy or France—two powerhouses of European textile artistry. Comprising two pieces (one measuring 4⅜ × 19½ inches and the other 8 × 7 inches), it showcases delicate motifs of flowers and leaves, rendered in lush, piled velvet that catches the light with a soft, opulent sheen. Likely salvaged from a larger textile like upholstery, drapery, or luxurious garments, such fragments offer a glimpse into the opulence of Rococo-era interiors and fashion. Silk velvet was a pinnacle of 18th-century c...