Ribbon
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
L. 25 1/2 x 1 1/8 inches 64.8 x 2.9 cm
Classification
Textiles-Trimmings
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of The United Piece Dye Works, 1936
Accession Number
36.90.1484
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate silk ribbon, crafted in 19th-century France, the exquisite textile trimmings that adorned the era's fashion and interiors. Measuring a slender 25½ by 1⅛ inches (64.8 x 2.9 cm), its narrow form suggests it was designed for embellishing, hats, or upholstery—common uses for such luxurious accents. The floral motifs, hinted at in its tagging, evoke the romantic naturalism popular in French decorative arts during this period, transforming a simple strip into a wearable bouquet. Produced during France's golden age of silk weaving, particularly in Lyon, this ribbon highlights the techn...