Textile Design: A Butterfly
1800â30
Classification
textile designs
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Grafton H. Pyne
Accession Number
1948-118-17
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
### Textile Design: A Butterfly This delicate textile design, featuring a butterfly motif, dates to the early 19th century1800–1830) and hails from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection. Created during America's Federal period, when neoclassical tastes blended with growing fascination for the natural world, it exemplifies the ornamental patterns that adorned fabrics, furnishings, and fashion. Butterflies, as enduring symbols of transformation and fleeting beauty, were popular in decorative arts, evoking the era's romantic appreciation for nature amid rapid industrialization. Thoug...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...