Large multi-petalled blooms, buds and grass-like blades overlap in an all-over field. Translated from Saisons des fleurs, a French woodblock-printed wallpaper designed by Prosper Tétrel, dated 1898–1899 by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and shown at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900. Available as wallpaper and fabric by the yard.
Mist blooms on a sage green ground. Pale blue-grey flowers on grey-green keep the values close, so the pattern is soft from a distance and fills in as you approach. Up close, a fine contour line holds every petal and blade.
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Source: Wallpaper "Saisons des fleurs", designed by Prosper Tétrel and made by Desfossé et Karth, printed from wood blocks on a hand-brushed ground. Worked from photographs of another printing of the same wallpaper.
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Collection: Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, 987.521.1-17.
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Origin: France.
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Date: 1898–1899, as dated by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Shown at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900.
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Repeat: 24 in × 27 in. Half-drop match, offset 13.5 in.
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Motif scale: The largest bloom is about 5.9 in wide by 5.6 in high, a quarter of the repeat width.
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Layout: An all-over field with no border: large blooms, buds, clusters of small florets on branching stems, broad leaves and grass-like blades, overlapping across the repeat.
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Values: Flat printed colours with no gradients or shading: a contour line, three background planes, bloom fill, bloom shadow, a centre accent and stem shadow.
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Edge: Clean. Shapes are held by a fine contour line. The woodblock print and brushed ground of the original are reduced to flat colour.
The Fabric
Decor Chenille
A short, dense pile with a velvet-like surface on a firm woven ground. Fine striations catch the light as it moves across the room, deepening the colour. Substantial weight keeps a clean line on upholstery and gives tailored drapery a decisive fall.
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Composition: 100% polyester
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Width: 56 in printable (57 in full)
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Weight: 400 gsm
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For: Upholstery, cushions, headboards, heavy drapery
Cotton Linen
A fine, even linen-cotton weave. Colour prints cleanly while the woven surface remains visible, keeping solid grounds from going flat without softening fine linework. Light in the hand, it falls in narrow, supple folds and filters light rather than blocking it.
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Composition: 55% linen, 45% cotton
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Width: 54 in printable
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Weight: 250 gsm
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For: Upholstery, curtains, table linens, pillows
