Coverlet Fragment

This fragment of a coverlet from 1755 offers a glimpse into the luxurious textiles of 18th-century France. The rich, embroidered satin and silk speak to a time when fabric was a significant marker of status and wealth. Here, a vibrant floral motif, possibly a rose or peony, takes center stage, rendered with remarkable three-dimensionality through the intricate stitching. The design, with its naturalistic yet stylized forms, reflects the Rococo aesthetic, which favored organic shapes and delicate ornamentation over the more rigid designs of earlier periods. One can almost imagine this piece gracing a grand bed in a Parisian salon, its soft sheen catching the candlelight. Philippe de la Salle, active in Lyon, was a prominent textile designer of the era, known for his innovative approach to silk weaving and embroidery.