Artwork

Gilet aux perles bleues, projets de broderies de gilet, XVIIIème siècle

Gilet aux perles bleues, projets de broderies de gilet, XVIIIème siècle is a drawing by Anonyme. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. The drawing, dated around 1750, is a design for a men’s vest (gilet) intended to be embroidered.

About this work

Overview

The drawing, dated around 1750, is a design for a men’s vest (gilet) intended to be embroidered. Rendered on a slightly yellowed sheet, it depicts a folded fabric panel covered with a vivid floral motif, outlined by fine blue lines that indicate the placement of stitches. The work is attributed to an anonymous creator and is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on clusters of stylised flowers in pink, purple, yellow and green, arranged to follow the contours of a garment. The decorative scheme reflects eighteenth‑century tastes for elaborate, nature‑inspired adornment on clothing, suggesting both aesthetic pleasure and social status conveyed through textile embellishment.

Technique & Style

Executed as a flat drawing, the piece uses delicate line work to simulate embroidery stitches, with blue threads marking the intended stitch paths. The floral elements are rendered in a balanced, symmetrical layout typical of Rococo decorative arts, while the overall effect mimics the texture and depth of actual needlework without employing any real thread.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1750 by an unknown artist, the design survived as a paper sketch and was later acquired by the Museum of Ethnography. Its preservation on a yellowed, slightly worn sheet indicates long-term storage, and the work now serves as a documentary example of eighteenth‑century fashion illustration and textile planning.