“Stop to admire this opulent 18th-century silk upholstery, a dazzling example of Rococo textile design. Its vibrant floral patterns and shimmering silk threads would have brought luxurious elegance to any French interior.”
This vibrant silk upholstery, designed for a chair, bursts with a lavish display of naturalistic flowers and foliage. It was created in 1765 by Philippe de la Salle, a designer known for his exceptional textile work. The fabric’s surface shimmers with a complex play of light, achieved through the varying textures and weaves of the silk threads. Large, full-blown roses and smaller blossoms in shades of pink, red, and blue intertwine with delicate green leaves and scrolling vines, creating a sense of abundant growth. This intricate design reflects the Rococo period's love for organic forms and decorative elegance, intended to adorn the fashionable interiors of 18th-century French society. The sheer scale and detail of the pattern suggest it would have been a focal point in any room, transforming a functional piece of furniture into a luxurious work of art.
- Artist
- Philippe de la Salle
- Date
- 1765
- Medium
- Silk
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- L. 50 x W. 30 1/2 inches (127.0 x 77.5 cm) (loom width)
- Collection
- European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
- Culture
- French, Lyons
- Credit line
- Rogers Fund, 1933
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The large, open roses, rendered with remarkable depth and volume.
The delicate blue flowers, contrasting with the richer pinks and reds.
The way the leaves and stems intertwine, creating a dynamic, flowing pattern.
The subtle sheen of the silk, which gives the fabric a luxurious quality.
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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
Length of upholstery silk
1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Panel of upholstery silk
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 · 1750s–1780s
Head of a Child
Jacques-Louis David · 1768 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1750s–1780s
Portrait of Madame Anne-Jeanne Cassanéa de Mondonville, née Boucon (1708-1780)
Maurice Quentin de Latour · 1752 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1750s–1780s
Portrait of a Lady
John Smart of Ipswich · 1773 · Yale Center for British Art
Same era · 1750s–1780s
Thomas Hurnard (1711/1712–1753), Mayor of Norwich (1752)
John Theodore Heins · 1754 · Norfolk Museums Collections
Same era · 1750s–1780s
Hot milk jug
Höchst Manufactory · 1770 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1750s–1780s
Medal cabinet
William Vile · 1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1750s–1780s
Pair of Side Chairs
Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen · 1770 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1750s–1780s
John Jehu, L'Inghilterra
James Bretherton · 1772 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1750s–1780s
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 · 1750s–1780s
Saint John the Baptist with a lamb
Stefano Mulinari · 1766 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1750s–1780s
Landscape
William Wooller · 1763 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Same era · 1750s–1780s
the swing
Jean-Honoré Fragonard · 1767 · Wallace Collection
