Quarter of a printed silk scarf with a magenta background. A large border block of cream-color with black spots breaks the middle of the magenta. There are two thin black border cream interior borders near the edge of the silk and another attached to the border block in the middle. Field of scattered flowers in magenta and pink lay on a large leaf connected by vines and small leaves in a repeating pattern.. On the lower left there are four sets of cream colored flowers and leaves in a repeating pattern.

There is one other image of this object. This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions), and as such we offer a high-resolution image of it. See our image rights statement.

See more objects with the tag monochromatic, synthetic dyes.

See more objects with the color bisque rosybrown dimgrey darkslategrey rosybrown or see all the colors for this object.

Object Timeline

1981	We acquired this object.
2012	We photographed this object.
2013	We photographed this object.
2018	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Scarf Sample (France)

This is a Scarf sample. It is dated mid-19th century and we acquired it in 1981. Its medium is silk and its technique is printed on plain weave. It is a part of the Textiles department.

In 1856, 18-year-old chemist William Henry Perkin accidentally discovered the first synthetic dye while searching for a treatment for malaria. His experiment failed but left behind an oily residue that stained silk a brilliant purple he called mauvine. Synthetic purple dyes soon took the fashion world by storm.

This object was donated by Barbara Rogoff. It is credited Gift of Barbara Rogoff.