Handkerchief
Unknown Artist
third quarter 19th century
Medium
linen
Classification
Handkerchief
Culture
Italian
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of the executors of the estate of Clara M. Blum in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Blum, 1966
Accession Number
2009.300.2874
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate linen handkerchief, crafted by an unknown Italian artist during the third quarter of the19th century (circa 1850–1875), offers a glimpse into the refined world of Victorian-era personal accessories. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, it exemplifies the exquisite textile traditions of Italy, a nation undergoing unification amid the Risorgimento. Linen, prized for its crisp texture and breathability, was a favored medium for such items, often reserved for the elite as both practical necessities and status symbols. The handkerchief's "Monuments" tag hints...