Fragment of a Woman's Skirt Flounce
c. 1850
Medium
Silk, warp-faced pattern woven to shape, on plain weave foundation
Dimensions
50.2 × 54 cm (19 3/4 × 21 1/4 in.)
Classification
costume accessory
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
196538
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
During the middle of the 1800s, European and American women’s fashion favored voluminous bell-shaped skirts worn with matching, tightly fitted bodices, which helped make the wearer’s waist appear slender in comparison to the full skirt below. Such skirts were often decorated with several tiers of gathered flounces that added volume to the already wide garments.
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...