Foulards - Été 1890

Publisher's pink cloth binding, square spine with two metal rivets, first cover framed in gilt and stamped in gilt "Foulards - Summer 1890" with gilt monogram "CJ", 173 samples bound in, several pages bound in with numbers inscribed in pencil on verso. Corners rubbed, 12 samples partially cut, fold marks on some samples, fringing naturally present at top and bottom margins of fabrics.

A very aesthetic silk swatch book sampler probably intended for display in Parisian department stores, with 173 fabric swatches of colorfully patterned silk scarves for the summer of 1890.

This rare sample book contains numerous multicolored floral motifs, abstract designs, polka dots and geometric lines. Some thirty of them are also finely embroidered with flowers or bands of shiny silk thread. These fabric are available in a very wide range of colors: obtained using the block-printed silk technique, all motifs are available in up to six shade combinations. Each pattern, with several samples in different colors, is preceded by a page with a reference number written in pencil.

The monogram "C.J." embossed on the front cover could refer to the famous C. J. Bonnet silk factory in the Ain region of France, founded in 1835 and a prize-winner at numerous World's Fairs.

A symphony of fabrics in their original promotional binding, a fine example of the extreme quality of French industrial silks during the Belle Epoque.