This remarkable textile originates from France, dating to circa 1881, and serves as a scholarly example of the high-Victorian floral naturalism. Measuring 30 inches by 18 inches (76 cm x 46 cm), the piece is an original roller-printed cotton sample from the esteemed Scheurer company based in Mulhouse, Alsace. Acquired at auction in Paris, the sample retains its original archival label detailing the design provenance. Having been stored away from light for over a century within a sample book, the fabric remains in excellent condition with exceptionally vivid colors, though it features one original selvedge and three cut edges where it was removed from its historical binding.
The visual narrative is a lush, all-over botanical composition set against a vibrant cerulean blue backdrop. The design showcases intricate bouquets of roses and wildflower clusters rendered in a rich palette of pink, red, blue, and mauve, intertwined with delicate scrolls and foliage in yellow, tan, and brown. This specific pattern reflects the technical mastery of late 19th-century French roller-printing, which allowed for complex shading and a painterly depth of color. The dense, organic movement of the vines against the saturated blue ground captures the transition from traditional floral realism toward the more stylized, ornamental aesthetics of the late 19th century.