Sablé book cover, floral spray on front, cupid with torch, wreath and 2 hearts on back.

Blue damask with a large scale symmetrical pattern, the vertical center-line is middle of fabric in light blue; large oval frame in the form of a ribbon from the top of which is suspended a basket of flowers from a ribbon. The ribbon frame is the full width of the fabric, and is repeated one on top of the other.

Rows of red heart-shaped floral sprigs with black stems alternating with brown stripes with white and red flowers with black stems, selvedge with blue thread

This object is from the collection of Natalia de Shabelsky (1841-1905), a Russian noblewoman compelled to preserve what she perceived as the vanishing folk art traditions of her native country. Traveling extensively throughout Great Russia, she collected many fine examples of textile art of the wealthy peasant class. From the 1870s until moving to France in 1902, Shabelsky amassed a large collection of intricately embroidered hand-woven household textiles and opulent festival garments with rich decoration and elaborate motifs. The Brooklyn Museum holdings include many fine examples including the majority of the garments. Portions of Shabelsky's collection are also housed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Cleveland Art Museum, and the Russian Museum of Ethnography in St. Petersburg.

Sablé cupid and boat, sheaths containing 6 knives in tortoise-shell hinged sheaths.

Piece of printed cotton, Penn's Treaty with the Indians.

1776 / 1800, France

1776 / 1800, France

Description