Mezzaro (shawl or headcovering)
1800â1850
Classification
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt, from the textile collection of Mrs. Abram Stevens Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-4-6
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 19th-century fashion with this captivating *Mezzaro*, a shawl or headcovering dating from 1800–1850. Now part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Smithsonian Collection, this textile piece reflects the era's fascination with exotic, versatile accessories that could drape shoulders or adorn the head with graceful flair. Classified among printed, dyed, and painted textiles, the *mezzaro* showcases sophisticated techniques that brought bold colors and patterns to life on fabric. These labor-intensive methods—often involving block printing or resist dyeing—produced dur...
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...