Piece
Unknown Artist
ca. 1830
Medium
Cotton
Dimensions
L. 38 1/4 x W. 25 inches (97.2 x 63.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Printed
Culture
British
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Museum Accession
Accession Number
X.258
Tags
Art Historical Context
This printed cotton textile, titled simply *Piece* and dating to around 1830, exemplifies British decorative arts from the early 19th century. Measuring 38¼ by 25 inches, it features intricate motifs of eagles, flowers, leaves, and coats of arms—hallmarks of heraldic design that evoke national pride and aristocratic symbolism. Produced by an unknown artist, the fabric likely served as a furnishing panel or curtain fragment, showcasing the era's fascination with bold, emblematic patterns. In the context of Britain's Industrial Revolution, printed cottons like this one represented a technologic...