“This isn't just fabric; it's a window into 18th-century luxury. Notice the incredibly detailed floral design and the shimmering quality of the silk, which would have brought unparalleled elegance to French interiors.”
This length of silk upholstery immediately captures attention with its vibrant, almost three-dimensional floral design. Imagine this fabric adorning a grand armchair or gracing the walls of an elegant salon in 18th-century France. The design features large, naturalistic bouquets of roses and other blossoms, seemingly bursting from delicate ribbons and bows. The fabric's luxurious sheen, a characteristic of fine silk, would have made these intricate patterns shimmer in candlelight, adding to the opulence of any interior. This piece showcases the exquisite skill of 18th-century Lyon silk weaving, a craft renowned for its technical sophistication and artistic flair. The naturalistic style reflects a shift in taste towards designs inspired by nature, moving away from the more formal patterns of earlier periods.
- Artist
- Philippe de la Salle
- Date
- 1760
- Medium
- Silk
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- L. 55 3/4 x W. 27 5/8 inches (141.6 x 70.2 cm)
- Collection
- European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
- Culture
- French, Lyons
- Credit line
- Rogers and Director's Discretionary Funds, 1978
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The way light reflects off the silk, giving the flowers a lifelike glow.
The delicate shading within each petal, creating a sense of depth.
The intricate ribbons and bows that intertwine with the floral motifs.
The precise alignment of the pattern, suggesting its use for continuous upholstery.
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Philippe de la Salle
1723–1804 · FrancePhilippe de la Salle was a master of 18th-century Lyon silk weaving, known for luxurious textiles like his 'Branche de Corail'.
Further Works by de la Salle
Design for a Lampas Silk with a Triumphal Chariot on a Cloud
1765 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Chair back
1765 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Upholstery passementerie
1750 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fragment of woven silk
1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Panel of upholstery silk
1765 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Woven silk upholstery for a chair
1765 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Catherine II of Russia
1766 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Border of woven silk
1770 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond de la Salle: works from the same years.
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Head of a Child
Jacques-Louis David · 1768 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Portrait of Madame Anne-Jeanne Cassanéa de Mondonville, née Boucon (1708-1780)
Maurice Quentin de Latour · 1752 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Thomas Hurnard (1711/1712–1753), Mayor of Norwich (1752)
John Theodore Heins · 1754 · Norfolk Museums Collections
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Portrait of a Lady
John Smart of Ipswich · 1773 · Yale Center for British Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Medal cabinet
William Vile · 1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Hot milk jug
Höchst Manufactory · 1770 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Side Chair
Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen · 1750 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1740s–1770s
John Jehu, L'Inghilterra
James Bretherton · 1772 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
A young girl walks towards the left with one infant on her shoulder and holding another small child's hand, while two children walk at right with a torch and a basket
Luca Cambiaso · 1775 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Bouillon bowl with cover
Höchster Porzellan-Manufaktur · 1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Descent of the Holy Ghost
Stefano Mulinari · 1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1740s–1770s
Landscape
William Wooller · 1763 · Cleveland Museum of Art
