My latest find…
from Lyon, silk capital of France…
c. 1898 sample book of dyed silk swatches
Over sized scrapbook of 10 fold out pages..
Hundreds of shiny silk swatches…
the “hot color trends” of the late 19th century
Lovely script color descriptions…
some obscure…Clematite, Paquerette, Golconde, Ecorce…
can anyone translate?!
Others like mais and ceil, clearly “corn” and “sky”
Colors from violet and purple, mauve, cerise, and candy pink…
to “marrons”…chestnuts, wheats, browns, creams…
Unfortunately, cellophane tape was invented in 1920, and someone
industriously attempted to keep every swatch in place with this un-archival horror.
I’m carefully removing it from the silk, letting it stay on numbers above where
pulling it off would remove the print. Carefully trying to smooth the errant
strands of some swatches with a small paintbrush.
I’ve done several posts on sample books including “Antique Fabric, Sample Books” here
that show a very similar book from Caron Baudoin c. 1893
Evidently “Cyrano de Bergerac” was big in the fall of 1898…
Continuing on with my fascination of sample books, love imagining the footsteps
from samples to final products, as well as fleshing out the colors of the time…
Gorgeous! What a wonderful find! Those colors are so rich and luscious….delicious eye candy!
Ohhhh~~~~!
A beautiful find – the colors sing and I adore the calligraphy. A real treasure!
Trish,
Beautiful!!! Where do you find this???? I really would like to find that to display in my house where alle my fabrics are, to show at my clients!
Really wonderful!
Greet
Trish, so beautiful ! Like a painters palette or watercolor box. Luscious colors.
I have long been a believer in book synchronicity, but this find is, indeed, a miracle that waited to find you. Pox on cellophane (a funny little word really) tape. How will you display this?
Hi HBD. I am loath to change too much…but will probably rebind since front and back are off. Most of the 10 large pages are connected…can be folded so they flip like separate pages, will separate each with archival paper.
Like this
In terms of synchronicity, my maiden name is Lyon…so you hit that nail on the head. Merci!
Oh how pretty… those would look so wonderful mounted, framed and then grouped together on a wall!
I agree…maybe eventually, but love the ability to flip through it and tilt the book to catch the gleam of the swatches.
Oh Mi God – where DO you find these beautiful books! They are simply amazing 9 having just finsihed reading a book about the seamstresses of 1715-1760 France — the authot talks extensively about the “linen drapers” “fabric merchants” selers of trims for hats and dresses, buttons, etc etc. What a fascinating world it was – and a huge industry!
Oh my stars, Trish Lyon!…this book has come to rest and live anew in the perfect hands. The pleasure it brings me to just be able to glance at its pages of glorious color in this post surely cannot compare to the delight you will enjoy experiencing it. I know for you this is like a fine painting ~art~ and I could not agree more. Even the lettering holds such fascination. Enjoy!
~jermaine~
Hi Jermaine. It’s amazing how vibrant these are 111 years later! French+ Old + Textile + Script+ My Name…and it was a very good deal. Glad someone took the time to care for it, even with the scotch tape.
Bonjour Trish!
How lovely, what a find! This is indeed a work of art – also looks a bit like the gorgeous displays in a patisserie. I know you will enjoy this immensely.
What a treasure, and I can think of no one as deserving as you to house it! Isn’t it amazing how the colors seem so much brighter than what we ‘think’ they were… Faded memories indeed…
Ulla
hello, its a beautiful book iwish i find some thing like that , the name of the colors are flowers names: clématite its some kind of passionflowers, its blue purple its climbing plant, paquerette, its a little daisies who grow on lawns, i dont know about golconde , ecorce its bark, if u need more french u welcome its a joy to see antiques dresses and fabrics Thanks
Merci Francoise! Of course: Clematis…I have several of those climbing on trellises! I might email you a few more…part of the problem is the script, hard to interpret some letters. Thank you for your offer of help! There are actually a few more of these on Ebay now, seller ships from Germany. I picked the oldest, that happened to also have script. FRENCH CATALOGUE SILK SAMPLES 1900 CHAMBEYRON FILS is the title of one.
STOP, I can’t take it! This is beyond beautiful! Congrats on your find! Miracles really do come true 🙂
Lucky girl!!!
What a treasure you have found. A book of magnificent color or showcases in silk. I’m emerald green with envy. Sea Witch
I cannot believe this!!!!! It is a gorgeous book!!!!!!!!!Now here’s the interesting part…..The first time I ever went to France, Robespierre and I came across a similar book in a small antique shop. It had the same kind of swatches in a myriad of colors categorized and written in French of course. It was too expensive for us at the time but we still kick ourselves for not going out on a limb and acquiring it! It is really something Trish you will cherish it forever!!!!!
Oh and that one word bdginning with Cle, I think it’s Clematis..?
I love it , this is so beautiful , this kind of samples book are so hard to find !! you area lucky girl
pristine! never seen anything like it!