Piece
Unknown Artist
ca. 1805
Medium
Cotton
Dimensions
L. 20 x W. 27 inches 50.8 x 68.6 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
26.265.31
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming printed cotton textile fragment, titled simply *Piece*, dates to around 1805 and hails from Britain during the early years of the Industrial Revolution. 20 by 27 inches, it the era's booming textile industry, where cotton fabrics became affordable luxuries for homes and wardrobes alike. Adorned with floral motifs—a hallmark of British decorative tastes—the piece likely served as a furnishing sample, curtain panel, or dress fabric, reflecting the Regency period's love for nature-inspired elegance amid rapid urbanization. Printed textiles like this were revolutionary, employing te...