Fragments from a Bedcover made of Petticoat Borders
Late 18th century
Medium
Cotton, plain weave; embroidered with wool threads in chain stitch; quilted
Dimensions
87.8 × 246.5 cm (34 1/2 × 97 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
179535
Art Historical Context
This enchanting textile, *Fragments from a Bedcover made of Petticoat Borders*, dates to the late 18th century and showcases the ingenuity of anonymous makers in repurposing everyday fabrics. Crafted from a cotton plain-weave base, it measures an impressive 87.8 × 246.5 cm, ideal for covering a bed. The piece ingeniously reuses decorative borders from petticoats—undergarments worn by women of the era—transforming discarded clothing edges into a cohesive bedcover through careful piecing. Artistically, it features embroidery with wool threads in chain stitch, a robust technique that creates bol...
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...