Welcome to The Textile Trunk ~ I’ve been collecting and working with antique and vintage textiles for over 25 years, and this exceptional French upholstery sample is a rare and beautiful survival.
A STUNNING work of art, I am blown away by the beauty of this textile!!! The back of the tag dates this to 1902 ~ linen and cotton ~ This unused French upholstery sample, produced by an Art de Lyon workshop, was created as a chair upholstery design panel. The fabric features finely printed floral cartouches arranged for furniture placement, with each individual motif measuring approximately 17 x 17 inches. The design shows elegant scrolling foliage, urns, and richly shaded bouquets, clearly inspired by 18th century French Rococo models, revived here for decorative interiors.
The palette is soft and refined, with gentle florals set against a warm neutral ground. This type of sample was used by decorators and upholsterers to present finished chair and seat designs to clients, making surviving unused examples especially desirable. The presence of the original paper label further confirms its use as a professional upholstery sample rather than yardage.
The fabric is suitable for chair upholstery, cushions, framed textile wall art, or study and display, and works beautifully in French farmhouse, chateau chic, classic European, and romantic interiors.
MEASUREMENTS: This unused sample measures approximately 56 inches long by 27 inches wide. Each printed design measures approximately 17 x 17 inches.
CONDITION: This textile work of art is in as found vintage condition. It is unused, with light signs of age from storage only, including faint marks visible on the reverse. Please use the zoom feature on the photographs to see the exact condition!~
I love giving these historic textiles a new life in today’s homes ~ reusing and repurposing antique and vintage fabrics is a privilege and a joy. Pieces like this were made to be treasured and are truly the antiques of the future, designed to be passed down from generation to generation.