Piece
Unknown Artist
ca. 1851–72
Medium
Cotton
Dimensions
L. 25 1/2 x W. 15 inches 64.8 x 38.1 cm
Classification
Textiles-Printed
Culture
British
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William Sloane Coffin, 1926
Accession Number
26.265.14a
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming cotton textile fragment, simply titled *Piece*, hails from Britain around 1851–72, a vibrant period of the Victorian era when industrial innovations transformed textile production. Measuring 25½ by 15 inches, it exemplifies printed cotton fabrics that adorned homes, clothing, and furnishings, showcasing the era's mastery of mechanized printing techniques like roller and block printing. Adorned with floral motifs—evident from its tags—these patterns reflected Britain's deep-rooted love for nature-inspired designs, drawing from botanical illustrations and garden aesthetics popular ...