Pomegranate textile 1883

This textile with a pomegranate pattern was made by the Associated Artists, a group founded in 1883 by the famous interior designer, Candace Wheeler. The Associated Artists were at the forefront of the American Arts and Crafts movement, a design movement that championed handcrafted design over mass production. They sold their textiles, wallpaper, and embroideries to a wealthy clientele, who were eager to embrace the aesthetic of understated elegance that the movement stood for. Wheeler was committed to improving the status of women in design and business. All members were women and emphasized the importance of women as designers in a male-dominated society. This textile exemplifies the attention to detail and careful craftsmanship that defined their work. Looking at archives and design publications from the period can tell us much more about the social and cultural context in which this textile was created.