Piece of a Towel c. 19th century

“Piece of a Towel” is an anonymous piece of 19th century embroidery, currently located at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The work depicts an arrangement of stylized flowers and leaves in shades of white and blue on a pale blue linen background. The delicate stitches and floral motif suggest that it may have once been part of a larger textile, perhaps a tablecloth or a decorative piece of clothing. The piece’s simple, yet elegant design demonstrates the skill of its unknown maker.