Letter case
Unknown Artist
mid-19th century
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
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...