Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"
1805–1815
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1920-36-166
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing, titled *Design for an Embroidered or Woven Horizontal Border of the "Fabrique de St. Ruf"*, hails from the renowned silk manufactory Fabrique de Saint Ruf in Lyon, France, dating to the Napoleonic era (1805–1815). Lyon, long celebrated as the silk capital of Europe, was a hub of innovation during this time, producing luxurious textiles for fashion, furnishings, and export. As a preparatory design, this work served as a blueprint for embroiderers or weavers, capturing the intricate patterns that defined high-end silk borders—likely featuring neoclassical motifs suited to ...