Piece
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Cotton
Dimensions
L. 4 3/4 x W. 6 3/4 inches (approx.) 12.1 x 17.1 cm
Classification
Textiles-Printed
Culture
German
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1909
Accession Number
09.50.847
Art Historical Context
This modest yet intriguing "Piece" is a printed cotton textile from 19th-century Germany, measuring just 4¾ by 6¾ inches. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of European Sculpture and Decor Arts (acquired via the Rogers Fund in 1909), it exemplifies the era's vibrant textile production. As a classified "Textiles-Printed" artifact, it likely served as a fabric sample or fragment from garments, upholstery, or household linens, showcasing the precision of printing techniques on cotton—a versatile, affordable medium that democratized decorative patterns during industrialization. ...