Fragment
CultureFrench
Date1760s
MediumSilk and metallic threads
DimensionsOverall: 21 x 17 1/2 inches (53.34 x 44.45 cm)
Credit LinePurchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust
Object number31-126/298
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionFloral design in red, silver, green, yellow, violet, balck, and gold on an apricot background.Gallery LabelDecorated with large bouquets of purple, red, white, yellow and blue flowers with accents of bright green leaves, this fabric fragment was once part of a fashionable garment. The silver ribbon pattern twisting upward through the design was popular for dress fabrics of the 1760s when French tastes evolved rapidly and designers created new patterns annually to encourage sales. Characteristic of the finest French brocades from the mid-1700s, the technically complicated weave includes myriad colors, each of which is introduced through new wefts, or horizontal threads. Silver gilt threads highlight the white roses while the centers of the lavender and deep purple flowers are embellished with a tiny gold diamond pattern—sumptuous touches for a wealthy and fashionable consumer.
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