Design for Woven Paisley
1825â40
Classification
textile designs
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1909-13-100
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Design for Woven Pais* from 1825–40 captures the height of "Paisley mania" in the early 19th century, intricately patterned shawls swept through Europe and America. Originating from Persian and Indian Kashmiri textiles, the distinctive teardrop-shaped "boteh" motifs—often filled with floral and pinecone elements—were reinterpreted by weavers in Paisley, Scotland, giving the style its name. This unknown artist's design likely served as a blueprint for Jacquard looms, enabling the complex, reversible patterns that made these shawls luxurious status symbols for fashionable women. ...
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...