Textile, floral copperplate print, purple/sepia

Dateca. 1755

MediumCotton

Dimensions28" H X 37 3/4" W
Repeat: about 36 1/4"
Thread count 40 x 52

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1962-274,1

DescriptionTextile fragment printed with copperplate in a design of naturalistic flowers including carnations, chrysanthemums, peonies, roses, lilacs, hydrangeas, and morning glories on undulating trailing stems. Textile is now primarily sepia on natural ground, but was once purple. Fragment is made of two pieces, seamed together to match design.Label TextThis textile was originally printed with a copper plate in purple on white. The mordants (color fixatives) used for printing purple were corrosive, attacking the textile over time, weakening the ground fabric, and causing the color to turn from the original rich purple to sepia or black. In certain areas one can still discern traces of the original purple color on this textile, now mostly sepia.