Handkerchief
Unknown Artist
fourth quarter 19th century
Medium
Linen
Classification
Handkerchief
Culture
Belgian
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Sallie Hodges, 1924
Accession Number
2009.300.4079
Art Historical Context
This delicate linen handkerchief, created by an unknown Belgian artist in the fourth quarter of the 19th century (1876–1900), invites visitors to the Costume Institute to appreciate the understated elegance of everyday Victorian-era accessories. Linen, a natural fiber derived from flax, was highly valued for its softness, durability, and breathability, making it ideal for personal items like handkerchiefs carried in pockets or purses. In late 19th-century Belgium, a hub of fine textile production, such handkerchiefs served both practical and ornamental purposes, often accompanying elaborate f...