This elegant textile originates from France, produced circa 1906, and serves as a scholarly example of the refined cotton poplin printing that flourished during the peak of the Art Nouveau movement. Measuring 30 inches by 20.5 inches (76 cm x 52 cm), the piece is an original roller-printed sample from the esteemed Scheurer company in Mulhouse, Alsace. Acquired at auction in Paris, the sample remarkably retains its original archival labels, which certify the design provenance and identify the fabric as a durable poplin weave. 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 masterfully symmetrical arrangement of stylized rose motifs set against a warm, terracotta-pink field. The composition features large, central blossoms in shades of peach and cream, flanked by vertical clusters of rosebuds and intricate, whiplash-curve vines in sage and olive green. Subtle accents of yellow and brown define the internal structures of the leaves and stems, reflecting the movement's obsession with organic growth and rhythmic geometry. The technical precision of the roller-printing is evident in the delicate tonal shifts within the petals, creating a soft, painterly depth that characterizes the high-end French interior textiles of the early 20th century.