Artwork

Gilet à la bordure de svastika, projets de broderies de gilet, XVIIIème siècle

Gilet à la bordure de svastika, 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. This eighteenth‑century drawing, attributed to an anonymous creator and dated to around 1750, presents a decorative scheme for a men’s vest.

About this work

Overview

This eighteenth‑century drawing, attributed to an anonymous creator and dated to around 1750, presents a decorative scheme for a men’s vest. The composition is rendered on a weathered sheet of paper, suggesting it functioned as a practical pattern rather than a finished artwork. The piece is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography.

Subject & Meaning

The design outlines a vest bordered with a repeated swastika motif, a symbol that in many pre‑modern cultures signified auspiciousness or good fortune. Within the central field, stylised flowers, foliage and small birds create a lively natural scene, reflecting contemporary tastes for ornamental nature in clothing.

Technique & Style

Executed in coloured ink or watercolor, the drawing employs a limited palette of blue, pink and yellow to differentiate elements. The line work is precise, indicating the intended embroidery stitches, while the torn edges of the paper reveal its use as a working document rather than a formal illustration.

History & Provenance

The pattern originates from the mid‑eighteenth century, a period when textile design often circulated as hand‑drawn templates among tailors and embroiderers. Its anonymous authorship is typical for utilitarian design sketches of the era. The work entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings through its collection of historic costume and textile materials.