Piece

Art Historical Context

This charming fragment, titled simply *Piece*, hails from 1876 America—a pivotal year marking the nation's centennial celebration at Philadelphia's Exposition Universelle. Created by an unknown artist, engraved roller-printed cotton textile captures the ingenuity of the Gilded Age's burgeoning industrial design scene. Measuring a modest 11 3/8 x 10 1/8 inches, it exemplifies everyday decorative arts that adorned homes across the United States, blending functionality with aesthetic appeal. The medium is key to its significance: roller-printing, perfected in the 19th century, used engraved copp...