Piece
Unknown Artist
ca. 1850
Medium
Cotton, printed
Dimensions
15 3/8 x 19 3/4 in. (39.1 x 50.2 cm)
Classification
Piece
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. William W. Hoppin, 1948
Accession Number
48.164.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming printed cotton "Piece" from around 1850 exemplifies mid-19th-century American textile art, likely a quilt square or furnishing panel. Featuring motifs of birds, George Washington, flowers, and leaves, it bursts with patriotic symbolism and natural exuberance. The unknown artist's design captures the era's fascination with the first president as a national icon, surrounded by floral and avian elements that evoke abundance and freedom. Created using roller-printing techniques, a burgeoning industrial method that made colorful, intricate patterns affordable for American homes, this...