collecting antique French textiles

by Sharon Santoni

antique fabrics

 

Anita of Cedar Hill Farmhouse has asked the group of French Country bloggers to talk about antique French textiles this month.

 

19th century book of swatches,

 

Now and again I am fortunate to come across some fantastic textiles with  an antique dealer at a fair.  I am never left indifferent by these old fabrics that have come down through the generations and sometimes through centuries.


detail of antique petticoat, antique french textiles

 

Here, for you are some of my favorite shots.

 

bodice detail, antique french textiles

To see what the other bloggers are sharing, don’t forget to pop over to:

French Country Cottage

Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Confessions of a plate Addict  and

Savvy Southern Style

 

 

19th century curtains

 

COUNTRY-FRENCH-DESIGN-BUTTON

14 comments

KATHYSUE July 27, 2014 - 5:56 pm

I love how you have showed us what TRUE French fabrics look like,not the neutral, grayed pallet that most Americans grab onto as FRENCH. Lovely post and lovely fabrics, thank you for sharing.

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cyl January 27, 2017 - 5:35 pm

Me, too!

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Lynda Bergman July 27, 2014 - 6:27 pm

So beautiful and elegant!! Thank you so much for showing us these wonderful old textiles. Enjoying seeing your pictures as you travel.

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Courtney July 27, 2014 - 6:40 pm

So beautiful – your fabrics are truly treasures!!

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Judy Jensen July 27, 2014 - 8:37 pm

How do you store textiles such as comforters, vintage draperies, etc?

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Vicky from Athens July 27, 2014 - 11:04 pm

What gorgeous fabrics and beautiful colors. I’d love to know what you do with the fabrics you collect.

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Colleen Taylor July 28, 2014 - 12:07 am

What beautiful fabrics to be treasured!

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Kim July 28, 2014 - 2:16 am

Those are some beauties.

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Laura Ingalls Gunn July 28, 2014 - 1:11 pm

What gorgeous images you shared! Thank you so much.
I just returned from France where I toured the Les Olivades factory and went to the Souleiado fabric museum. I am sharing the history of Provençal fabric and the images from my time in Provence that you might enjoy on my blog today.

https://www.decortoadore.net/2014/07/beautiful-french-fabric-factory-tour.html

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Jeanne McKay Hartmann July 28, 2014 - 2:02 pm

So pretty! Vintage French textiles always send my imagination flying – I wonder where they came from and what lives they were part of before turning up at the flea market or brocante. Yours are beautiful. I’ll have to check out these other sites, too.

Have a lovely week, Sharon! XOXO

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Anita from Cedar Hill Farmhouse July 28, 2014 - 7:19 pm

Lovely!! These are the real deal. Of course it is difficult for me to get my hands on real French fabrics here. Those are so lovely.

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Tina @ What We Keep July 29, 2014 - 12:31 am

Wonderful examples to share, Sharon.
I adore the old book of swatches…what a treasure.

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Doré @BurlapLuxe July 29, 2014 - 8:24 am

What would I do with suce beauty as your French textiles? I am wanting to richen up my small French cottage with a bit more rustic colours.
I have always admired the inspiring beauty here with you.

Will see you soon, I added you to my side bar of inspiration so I won’t miss a thing.

Xx
Bisous

Doré

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Lory Bernstein July 29, 2014 - 12:49 pm

I have 4 very large books full of antique textile swatches, many of them French. The books came to me from my father-in-law, who was a textile converter. When I worked as a designer, particularly for Ralph Lauren and Nautica, we used to go to all the swatch houses in New York and delight in rooms full of these old swatches. So many of our print designs were inspired by these swatches and we would purchase many at a time. I will try to get some photos up this week of the best of what’s in these books… 🙂 Thanks for sharing your lovely fabrics here!

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