Very large very old 18th century indigo flamme curtain

An enormous indigo flamme curtain made from two panels of handwoven fabric which I think is indigo-dyed cotton interspersed with very fine handspun linen and cotton mètis. This would almost certainly have been a bed curtain for a four-poster bed, designed to provide a modicum of privacy in rooms which might have had more than one purpose.The edges have been enclosed with blue cotton bias tape. Along the top of the curtain has been reinforced with a golden cotton and silk brocade ribbon, and a number of the original lost-wax cast metal curtain rings are still stitched on.

The depth of colour in this piece is amazing, the blue is still beautiful and bright. There are a number of damages, especially along the bottom of the curtain, from wear and use. This is still strong in parts but is too fine and too fragile to be reused extensively, and should be considered as a document or decorative piece. It’s a truly beautiful and extremely rare example of this kind of fabric.

It measures 218cm wide and is 203cm long.

Please click on the photos to open them up full sized.

To purchase, or to ask further questions about this piece, please contact me.