Quillwork Shadowbox 1814 - 1820

"Quillwork Shadowbox" is a meticulously crafted three-dimensional artwork by Myra Bates (Willcutt) (1798-1885), completed between 1814 and 1820. The artwork, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, features a delicate arrangement of flowers rendered in quillwork, a technique involving the intricate cutting and shaping of bird feathers. The flowers, presented in a paper vase, are placed within a shadowbox frame, highlighting the fine detail of the quillwork and creating a sense of depth and realism.