Art Institute of Chicago

Apron

England

Date

1760s

Medium

Cotton, plain weave; drawnwork and embroidery in cotton, satin, buttonhole, chain, and double chain stitches with linen thread

Culture

England

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This apron mimics lace in its play of translucence and opacity. Fine sheer cotton muslin, imported to Europe from India, played a crucial role in fashion starting in the 1780s, but in this earlier example the embroidery motifs worked on the muslin are drawn from a traditional English vocabulary of stylized flowers. No ordinary kitchen apron, this accessory would have formed part of an elegant ensemble for a stroll in the park.

The authoritative record is held by Art Institute of Chicago. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.