Letter with textile samples
Unknown Artist
late 18th–early 19th century
Classification
Textiles-Methods and Materials
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Funds From Various Donors, 1985
Accession Number
1985.169.11a–c
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 18th-century French commerce this intriguing *Letter with Textile Samples*, created by an unknown artist in the late th to early 19th century Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of European Sculpture and Decor Arts, this artifact falls under the classification of Textiles—Methods and Materials. It exemplifies how correspondence served as a vital tool in the textile trade, with small fabric swatches attached directly to the letter to showcase quality, texture, and color to potential buyers. During this dynamic period—spanning the French Revolution and N...