Artwork

Gilet à la dentelle noire, projets de broderies de gilet, XVIIIème siècle

Gilet à la dentelle noire, 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.

About this work

Overview

The drawing, attributed to an anonymous hand and dated to around 1750, depicts a men’s vest outlined in a light fabric edged with black lace. The illustration is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography and serves as a design study for a garment rather than a finished piece.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a single vest, its silhouette defined by a simple cut and highlighted by an ornamental lace border. The lace features a scalloped edge embellished with stylised flowers, leaves and dangling tassels, suggesting an intention to convey elegance and refined taste in eighteenth‑century attire.

Technique & Style

Rendered in fine pen work, the drawing captures the intricate texture of the lace through delicate, tightly spaced strokes that simulate tiny stitches. Accents of vivid pigments—purples, blues and reds—are applied to the floral motifs and borders, indicating how colour would have been introduced in the final embroidered garment.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1750, the sketch entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it is catalogued among other textile design studies. Its anonymous authorship reflects the common practice of workshop‑produced pattern books, which were rarely signed.

Context

During the mid‑eighteenth century, lace and embroidered trims were fashionable embellishments on men’s clothing, especially for courtly or ceremonial dress. Design sheets such as this one guided tailors and embroiderers in reproducing complex motifs that signalled status and adherence to contemporary aesthetic codes.