This is a printed neoclassical toile dating to about 1815, French, possibly from Rouen. The cartouches contain scenes from La Fontaine's Fables, and are incredibly detailed, like bookplates. It has been copper-roller printed and made into a pelmet or valance for a bed. I think it would have been quite relaxing to sleep in a bed furnished with this particular upholstery toile, I can imagine drifting off to sleep thinking of the fables and other interesting tales. I would imagine that the morals of the tales would have edified the sleeper too...
What a fabulous pelmet and such detail on each cartouche....love the larger than life frogs watching the bulls fighting...quite comical!
ReplyDeleteI agree, really wonderful detail! I think the designer must have really enjoyed exploiting the rapid rise in cotton printing technology of the period to tell such exquisite, detailed pictorial tales.
ReplyDeleteI guess this is what I love most about toiles too are these wonderful tales and stories that unfold every time you look at them. Beauties indeed!
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