Piece
Unknown Artist
1835–40
Medium
Cotton
Dimensions
L. 25 x W. 10 1/4 inches 63.5 x 26.0 cm
Classification
Textiles-Printed
Culture
British
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Grace Ferris, 1932
Accession Number
32.117
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming printed cotton textile, simply titled *Piece*, hails from Britain around 1835–40, a vibrant era of the Industrial Revolution when textile production. Measuring 25 by 10¼ inches, it features delicate motifs of flowers and leaves, hallmarks of the period's romantic decorative style. Produced by an unknown artist, such fabrics were crafted using innovative roller-printing techniques, which allowed for intricate, repeatable patterns on cotton—a versatile, affordable medium that democratized beauty in homes and wardrobes across Europe. These printed textiles held immense cultural swa...