End XIXth Century Richelieu Bed linen at 2m30 width - Textile - 3.6 m - 2.3 m
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Selected by Paul Wullems
He accumulated 18 years' experience, worked as junior specialist at Sotheby’s and managed Kunsthandel Jacques Fijnaut.
Estimate € 450 - € 550
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French 19th-century linen bed linen (1850–1900) with Renaissance Richelieu embroidery, measuring 3.60 m by 2.30 m.
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Description from the seller
Exceptional 19th-Century French Linen Bed Linen with Renaissance Richelieu Embroidery
This is an exceptional piece of 19th-century French bed linen, woven in pure, fine linen and entirely hand-sewn and hand-embroidered, typical of the finest trousseau linen of its period.
The embroidery is a magnificent example of Renaissance-style Richelieu work, a delicate, lace-like white-on-white cutwork technique in which portions of the linen are carefully cut away to create intricate openwork designs. Named after Cardinal Richelieu, the celebrated 17th-century French statesman, this style evolved from the Italian cutwork tradition known as Punto Tagliato.
Three large floral motifs, featuring magnificent sunflower-like blooms, alternate with three smaller designs, extending across the entire width and returning of the cloth. The composition is framed by generous, wide scalloped borders, beautifully embroidered along the selvedges with motifs reminiscent of hanging tulips.
The embroidery displays remarkable technical skill. Unlike traditional Richelieu work, this particular Renaissance-style embroidery uses connecting loops without picots. Numerous fine needlepoint stitches provide decorative filling throughout the composition, creating a wonderful interplay of texture, relief and delicate openwork. The result is an exceptionally elegant piece, where the intricacy of the needlework is allowed to speak for itself.
A Treasured Heirloom from a French Château
In 19th-century France, such elaborate bed linen was considered a precious family possession, often forming part of a young woman's trousseau. Among the French nobility and bourgeoisie, these magnificent pieces were treasured almost as heirlooms, carefully preserved in the beautiful Normandy linen armoires and brought out only for the most special occasions.
After use, they would be meticulously folded and returned to their place, awaiting the next celebration. This tradition of careful preservation explains why some of these remarkable textiles have survived in such beautiful condition.
The present piece is a particularly fine example of this heritage.
Having personally examined the entire piece, I have been unable to find any holes, repairs or darning. Its remarkable condition is a testament both to the quality of the original workmanship and to the care with which it has been preserved.
Measurements:
The generous width of 2.30 metres is particularly noteworthy and will beautifully dress a bed up to 1.80 metres wide, allowing the embroidered borders to fall elegantly at either side.
A superb example of 19th-century French textile craftsmanship, this is more than simply antique bed linen: it is a surviving fragment of the art of fine living, created in an age when even the most practical household textiles were made with extraordinary care, patience and artistry.s provenance is once again the château near which I live, from whose remarkable ancestral linen collection I have had the privilege of obtaining some superb pieces over the past two years. The owners assured me that this bed linen had never been used during their lifetime and had remained carefully stored away.
Exceptional 19th-Century French Linen Bed Linen with Renaissance Richelieu Embroidery
This is an exceptional piece of 19th-century French bed linen, woven in pure, fine linen and entirely hand-sewn and hand-embroidered, typical of the finest trousseau linen of its period.
The embroidery is a magnificent example of Renaissance-style Richelieu work, a delicate, lace-like white-on-white cutwork technique in which portions of the linen are carefully cut away to create intricate openwork designs. Named after Cardinal Richelieu, the celebrated 17th-century French statesman, this style evolved from the Italian cutwork tradition known as Punto Tagliato.
Three large floral motifs, featuring magnificent sunflower-like blooms, alternate with three smaller designs, extending across the entire width and returning of the cloth. The composition is framed by generous, wide scalloped borders, beautifully embroidered along the selvedges with motifs reminiscent of hanging tulips.
The embroidery displays remarkable technical skill. Unlike traditional Richelieu work, this particular Renaissance-style embroidery uses connecting loops without picots. Numerous fine needlepoint stitches provide decorative filling throughout the composition, creating a wonderful interplay of texture, relief and delicate openwork. The result is an exceptionally elegant piece, where the intricacy of the needlework is allowed to speak for itself.
A Treasured Heirloom from a French Château
In 19th-century France, such elaborate bed linen was considered a precious family possession, often forming part of a young woman's trousseau. Among the French nobility and bourgeoisie, these magnificent pieces were treasured almost as heirlooms, carefully preserved in the beautiful Normandy linen armoires and brought out only for the most special occasions.
After use, they would be meticulously folded and returned to their place, awaiting the next celebration. This tradition of careful preservation explains why some of these remarkable textiles have survived in such beautiful condition.
The present piece is a particularly fine example of this heritage.
Having personally examined the entire piece, I have been unable to find any holes, repairs or darning. Its remarkable condition is a testament both to the quality of the original workmanship and to the care with which it has been preserved.
Measurements:
The generous width of 2.30 metres is particularly noteworthy and will beautifully dress a bed up to 1.80 metres wide, allowing the embroidered borders to fall elegantly at either side.
A superb example of 19th-century French textile craftsmanship, this is more than simply antique bed linen: it is a surviving fragment of the art of fine living, created in an age when even the most practical household textiles were made with extraordinary care, patience and artistry.s provenance is once again the château near which I live, from whose remarkable ancestral linen collection I have had the privilege of obtaining some superb pieces over the past two years. The owners assured me that this bed linen had never been used during their lifetime and had remained carefully stored away.
Details
Era
1400-1900
Material
Linen
Model
End XIXth Century Richelieu Bed linen at 2m30 width
Country of origin
France
Length
3.6 m
Colour
White
Width
2.3 m
Condition
Excellent condition: barely used with minimal signs of wear
Estimated period
1850-1900
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