Sample

Art Historical Context

This exquisite embroidered sample from early 19th-century measures a petite 3 1/8 by 2 3/4 inches (7.9 x 7 cm), crafted with silk threads on a felt ground. Adorned with delicate floral motifs, it exemplifies the refined textile artistry housed in the Metropolitan Museum of's Department of European Sculpture and Decor Arts. Gifted by The United Piece Dye Works 1936, this tiny piece likely served as a design swatch or production prototype, showcasing patterns for larger fabrics. In the post-Revolutionary era, French textiles flourished amid a revival of luxury crafts, blending Napoleonic grande...