Letter case

Unknown Artist

mid-19th century

Letter case by Unknown Artist

Medium

Silk and metal thread on silk

Dimensions

L. 29 1/2 x W. 22 inches (74.9 x 55.9 cm)

Classification

Textiles-Embroidered

Culture

German

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of Susan Dwight Bliss, 1955

Accession Number

55.217.38

Tags

BirdsButterfliesFlowers

Art Historical Context

This exquisite *Letter Case* from mid-19th-century Germany is a testament to the artistry of embroidered textiles, crafted with silk and metal threads on a silk ground. Measuring 29½ x 22 inches (74.9 x 55.9 cm), it as a elegant container for correspondence, blending functionality with lavish decoration. Delicate motifs of birds,, and flowers bloom across its surface, capturing the Romantic era's fascination with nature's beauty and intricacy. In 19th-century Europe, particularly Germany, embroidery was a revered craft among both professional and amateur needleworkers, often symbolizing refin...

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