Towel
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Linen
Dimensions
H. 40 x W. 15 inches (101.6 x 38.1 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture
Southern German
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1909
Accession Number
09.50.2787
Art Historical Context
Step into the intimate world of 18th Southern German households with this finely crafted linen towel, a testament to the artistry of everyday life. Measuring 40 by 15 inches, this embroidered textile from an unknown maker exemplifies the meticulous craftsmanship of the era's decorative arts. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1909, it now graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative collection, highlighting the fusion of utility and beauty in household linens. In Southern Germany, such towels were more than mere cloths for drying hands—they were prized possession...