Cuff bands c. 20th century

These 'Cuff Bands,' now at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, are works of anonymous creation and an exploration of pattern. The repeated motif, a star-like flower, blooms across the dark fabric, connected by looping tendrils. It's like a visual garden, carefully cultivated. I love how the metallic thread catches the light, giving the textile a subtle shimmer. The material itself—velvet, perhaps?—adds to the sensory experience; you can almost feel the soft nap against your skin. Look closely, and you'll see the individual stitches, the hand of the maker still visible in the finished piece. Each tiny variation in the placement of the thread adds a layer of depth and complexity. These pieces reminds me of the work of Ree Morton, particularly her use of humble materials to create complex, layered works. Both Morton and the anonymous creator of these cuffs invite us to look closely at the everyday, to find beauty and meaning in the overlooked. It's a reminder that art isn't just about grand gestures, it's about the small, deliberate acts of creation that shape our world.