Piece
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Cotton
Dimensions
L. 3 3/8 x W. 6 3/8 inches (approx.) 8.6 x 16.2 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
09.50.2889
Art Historical Context
This modest yet captivating "Piece" is a printed cotton textile from 19th-century Germany, measuring just 3⅜ by 6⅜ inches. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of European Sculpture and Decor Arts, it exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of printed textiles, a classification highlighting fabrics adorned with intricate patterns through techniques like block printing or early mechanized roller printing. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 9, it offers a tangible glimpse into everyday luxury materials of the era. In 19th-century Germany, the textile industry flourished amid i...