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D2014-CMD.
Curtain panel, floral chintzes
D2014-CMD.

Curtain panel, floral chintzes

Date1750-1790
OriginAsia, India (center) and Europe, France (borders)
MediumCotton, silk, linen lining
DimensionsL: 166" W: 57 1/2" Gathered to 38 inches at top
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1937-165,2A
DescriptionCurtain panel with a center of India chintz (mordant-painted-and-dyed cotton) in a design of flowers on angled or broken stems, executed in polychrome on a white ground. The center white-ground panel is framed on all four sides by appliques of blue-ground cotton block-printed in a floral pattern, creating an undulating inner frame. Crossing the blue appliques at regular intervals are white-ground polychrome floral textiles in the shape of leaves outlined with blue and white silk tape. At the top and bottom outer corners of the center panel the tape appliques appear as large stylized leaf or palmette forms. The wider outer border is red-ground block-printed floral pattern edged with narrow blue ground floral fabric. A narrower blue-ground outer border is straight and edged with blue-and-white silk tape. Modern linen lining.
Label TextThis costly curtain is part of a set that once hung in a lavish European house. The set probably included window curtains and hangings for a tall-post bed. Measuring almost fourteen feet in length, each curtain has a different white-ground Indian chintz at its center, bordered by dark-ground European block-printed textiles.