Sample
Unknown Artist
early 19th century
Medium
Silk and metal thread on felt
Dimensions
L. 3 1/2 x W. 2 3/4 inches 8.9 x 7 cm
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
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
36.90.1692
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate embroidered sample, created by an unknown French artist in the early 19th, exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of European textile arts during the Napoleonic era and Restoration period. Measuring just 3½ by 2¾ inches (8.9 x 7 cm), it features intricate plant motifs worked in silk and shimmering metal threads on a felt ground. Such small swatches were often produced as prototypes for larger decorative panels, upholstery, or fashion accessories, showcasing designs to dyers, weavers, and elite clients. The use of luxurious silk and metal threads highlights advanced embroidery t...