Piece
Unknown Artist
ca. 1840–50
Medium
Cotton
Dimensions
L. 8 1/4 x W. 9 3/4 inches 21.0 x 24.8 cm
Classification
Textiles-Printed
Culture
British
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Eli Fordham, 1928
Accession Number
28.176
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming printed cotton textile fragment, titled simply *Piece*, hails from Britain around 1840–50, during the height of the Victorian era. Measuring just 8¼ by 9¾ inches, it exemplifies the exquisite floral designs that adorned everyday life, from fashionable dresses to household linens. Produced by an unknown artist, it entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in 1928 as a gift from Mrs. Eli Fordham, residing today in the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department. Printed textiles like this one were a hallmark of Britain's Industrial Revolution, when innovations in r...