Length of wool Calimanco
Unknown Artist
mid-18th century
Medium
Wool, woven
Dimensions
Overall: 97 3/4 × 19 in. (248.3 × 48.3 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture
British, Norwich
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Bequest of Alfred Duane Pell, by exchange, 2017
Accession Number
2017.269
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 18th-century British textiles with this stunning *Length of wool Calimanco*, a mid-18th-century woven masterpiece from Norwich, England. Measuring an impressive 97 34 × 19 inches, this narrow bolt of glossy wool exemplifies the high-quality "Norwich stuffs" that made the city a textile powerhouse. Produced by an unknown artisan, it was crafted for use in fashionable garments, upholstery, or curtains, reflecting the era's demand for durable yet elegant fabrics. Calimanco, with its characteristic satin-like sheen achieved through a fine twill or satin weave, was prized fo...