This sophisticated textile originates from France, produced in 1911, and serves as a scholarly example of the transitional design period where late Art Nouveau fluidities began to meet more structured, classical revival influences. Measuring 30 inches by 18 inches (76 cm x 46 cm), the piece is an original roller-printed sample crafted from a durable reps (ribbed cotton fabric). Manufactured by the esteemed Scheurer company in Mulhouse, Alsace, this sample was acquired at auction in Paris and remarkably retains its original archival label specifying the design and fabric content. Because it was protected from environmental degradation within a sample book for over a century, the pigments remain exceptionally vibrant, though the piece features one original selvedge and three cut edges from its removal for archival sale.

The visual narrative is a complex, symmetrical arrangement of ornamental medallions and scrolling vines set against a deep, mossy green backdrop. The composition is anchored by a central lobed medallion containing a stylized floral spray in mauve and cream, surrounded by repeating secondary medallions and a dense network of interlocking scrolls. The palette is a refined combination of mauve, purple, and pink, accented by soft yellow and blue highlights. This technical mastery reflects the Scheurer company’s ability to achieve precise, architectural line-work on a textured ribbed substrate, capturing the sophisticated, multi-tonal elegance of French interior textiles in the years immediately preceding the First World War.

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