Fourteen Fabric Samples, Printed in Color on Paper

Paris?, Early 19th Century.

Large sheets, measuring approximately 16 x 14 inches, one a bit smaller.  Decoratively printed in color by woodblock printing, executed with extreme care with near prefect registration.  Original sheets laminated to a paper host in back-to-back method.  Very good condition.

On the verso of one of the sheets that is not backed, the words "Gravé par Holzstein & Chapui" appear in ink.  There is no other identification as to who the designer of textile was or its manufacturer, although each sheet has an inventory ticket pasted to the image, with a number written in ink.  Each image has wide borders enclosing the design, painted with dark red wash. 

These are exquisite examples of the marriage of highly technical woodblock printing and artistic textile design.  The designs include paisley floral designs with suggestions of ornate borders; repetitive diamond floral designs printed in three colors against a black background, set within a three border and a large outer border of red wash; and a delicate shell design set within a thick floral border and enclosed by a large outer border of red wash.  Some of the designs show the influence of East Indian and Middle Eastern patterns that suggest production during the early or mid-19th century.