Border of Metal-Thread and Velvet-Stich Embroidery on Silk, from an Album of Drawings in Color for Waistcoats

Designed by Jean François Bony French

Not on view

This textile sample shows a floral border design in on a creme-colored silk ground. The border consists of two parts. On the right side, a simple vertical band is made up out of branch motifs in silver-wrapped thread, interspersed with oval shapes that either wrap around or stay behind the branches. These are executed in silver sequence. To the left is a wider border with floral motifs. Luminescent branches with silver-wrapped thread and sequence alternate with colorful flowers in pinks, reds, and yellows, that are made to look like velvet.

The sample came into the collection as part of an album consisting of 35 folios with over 130 designs for embroidery, largely meant to be applied to waistcoats in the styles of Louis XV and XVI (see: 27.73.1-35). Like the embroidery, the patterns represented in the album are mostly floral in nature. Occasionally, birds and insects are added to the design as well. Influences from Asian textiles can be detected in the fantastical flowers and fruits, which are sometimes accompanied by other elements generally associated with the taste for so-called Chinoiseries.

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