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Object Timeline
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1931 |
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Fragment (India)
This is a Fragment. It is dated mid- 19th century and we acquired it in 1931. Its medium is cotton ground, beetle elytra, gold foil strips, gilt sequins, gold metal-wrapped silk thread. It is a part of the Textiles department.
The iridescent elytra, or wing casings, of the Buprestidae Jewel beetle have been used for centuries to adorn clothing and jewelry in India. In the 19th century, an export trade developed around Calcutta, where gossamer-fine cotton muslins were embroidered with gold threads and beetle wing “sequins.”
This object was
donated by
Sarah Cooper Hewitt.
It is credited Gift of Sarah Cooper Hewitt.
- Ashtray (USA)
- favrile glass.
- Bequest of Joseph L. Morris.
- 1966-55-2
- Vase
- glass.
- Bequest of Joseph L. Morris.
- 1966-55-40
- Vase (USA)
- blown, iridized, and tooled glass.
- Museum purchase from Mary Blackwelder Memorial Fund.
- 1977-56-1
Our curators have highlighted 6 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:
- Book, An Exposition of English Insects
- hand-colored engraving, brush and watercolor on paper.
- Smithsonian Libraries, QL482 .G7H315 1776.
- 92.2016.28
- Embroidery Sample (USA)
- Gift of the Budeiri Family in memory of Alberto Fasola.
- 2007-17-7
- Sidewall, Beetle
- digital print on mylar.
- Gift of Astek Inc..
- 2016-21-1
Its dimensions are
24.2 x 17.3 cm (9 1/2 x 6 13/16 in. )
Cite this object as
Fragment (India); cotton ground, beetle elytra, gold foil strips, gilt sequins, gold metal-wrapped silk thread; 24.2 x 17.3 cm (9 1/2 x 6 13/16 in. ); Gift of Sarah Cooper Hewitt; 1931-43-20
This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.
