Sheet with stripe and floral pattern 1700 - 1800

This is a small patterned textile, made anonymously, and now residing in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It presents a series of vertical stripes alternating between flowers and dots, and unadorned bars in blue, white and pink. As an artwork without a known maker, its interpretation relies upon the social context of its design and use. Given the existence of a commercial textile industry, who was this pattern designed to appeal to? Does it reflect contemporary taste or did it serve an export market? Was it intended for clothing, or soft furnishings? The art historian must consult a range of resources in order to understand this textile better. By researching the history of textile production and consumption, as well as the museum's own records of acquisition, we might better understand the work's origins and significance. Through close attention to its visual qualities and historical context, we can uncover the social and institutional forces that shaped its creation and meaning.