Complete 19th century cantonnière, Indiennes fabric with indigo flamme backing
This quilted cantonnière dates from the middle of the 19th century, around 1860-70, although the interior backing textile is probably 18th century, and it looks to be complete. Cantonnières were an essential part of a middle and upper class bedroom into the 20th century - even wealthy houses did not always have adequate heating, windows were single glazed, walls and floors were stone and wood, and the only source of heat were fireplaces. Beds in well-off households were therefore commonly four-poster with a roof, and were hung with thick quilted curtains. They effectively formed a room within a room, allowing the occupants to sleep warmly even as the room might drop below comfort levels. Cantonnières went round the top of the four posts of the bed, sealing the gap where the curtains hung, ensuring the heat didn’t escape. For wealthier households, the curtains and the cantonnière provided yet another canvas to display their wealth and taste, and the choice of textiles was often rich and expensive.
This cantonnière comprises two pieces, a complete circle which would have gone around the bed, and an extra bit which would have hung at the head. The front fabric is an Indiennes from the middle of the 19th century or earlier, and is a beautiful jewel red. The back part is worn and has holes in places, it is a print from the same era but has faded into a tobacco brown. However on the smaller piece, underneath this faded print, some of the fabric used for padding shows through and it is an 18th century indigo flamme. Fabric was valuable before the 20th century, and when things wore out, they were universally repurposed, even in wealthier households. Thus the padding for this cantonnière predates the external fabric by 60 or so years or more. The smaller piece has been cut at both ends, it measures 48x146cm. The other piece is circular, and measures 36cm deep and, if it were not in a loop but laid out flat it would be 612cm long. There is a small section at one edge showing some loss, it looks like someone (or something!) has taken a small bite out of this edge, but otherwise this is in good condition. This could still be used for its original purpose, or as a beautiful display piece - the colours are gorgeous and still strong, and the smaller piece, where the indigo flamme shows through the later backing, has its own beauty.
This quilted cantonnière dates from the middle of the 19th century, around 1860-70, although the interior backing textile is probably 18th century, and it looks to be complete. Cantonnières were an essential part of a middle and upper class bedroom into the 20th century - even wealthy houses did not always have adequate heating, windows were single glazed, walls and floors were stone and wood, and the only source of heat were fireplaces. Beds in well-off households were therefore commonly four-poster with a roof, and were hung with thick quilted curtains. They effectively formed a room within a room, allowing the occupants to sleep warmly even as the room might drop below comfort levels. Cantonnières went round the top of the four posts of the bed, sealing the gap where the curtains hung, ensuring the heat didn’t escape. For wealthier households, the curtains and the cantonnière provided yet another canvas to display their wealth and taste, and the choice of textiles was often rich and expensive.
This cantonnière comprises two pieces, a complete circle which would have gone around the bed, and an extra bit which would have hung at the head. The front fabric is an Indiennes from the middle of the 19th century or earlier, and is a beautiful jewel red. The back part is worn and has holes in places, it is a print from the same era but has faded into a tobacco brown. However on the smaller piece, underneath this faded print, some of the fabric used for padding shows through and it is an 18th century indigo flamme. Fabric was valuable before the 20th century, and when things wore out, they were universally repurposed, even in wealthier households. Thus the padding for this cantonnière predates the external fabric by 60 or so years or more. The smaller piece has been cut at both ends, it measures 48x146cm. The other piece is circular, and measures 36cm deep and, if it were not in a loop but laid out flat it would be 612cm long. There is a small section at one edge showing some loss, it looks like someone (or something!) has taken a small bite out of this edge, but otherwise this is in good condition. This could still be used for its original purpose, or as a beautiful display piece - the colours are gorgeous and still strong, and the smaller piece, where the indigo flamme shows through the later backing, has its own beauty.
This quilted cantonnière dates from the middle of the 19th century, around 1860-70, although the interior backing textile is probably 18th century, and it looks to be complete. Cantonnières were an essential part of a middle and upper class bedroom into the 20th century - even wealthy houses did not always have adequate heating, windows were single glazed, walls and floors were stone and wood, and the only source of heat were fireplaces. Beds in well-off households were therefore commonly four-poster with a roof, and were hung with thick quilted curtains. They effectively formed a room within a room, allowing the occupants to sleep warmly even as the room might drop below comfort levels. Cantonnières went round the top of the four posts of the bed, sealing the gap where the curtains hung, ensuring the heat didn’t escape. For wealthier households, the curtains and the cantonnière provided yet another canvas to display their wealth and taste, and the choice of textiles was often rich and expensive.
This cantonnière comprises two pieces, a complete circle which would have gone around the bed, and an extra bit which would have hung at the head. The front fabric is an Indiennes from the middle of the 19th century or earlier, and is a beautiful jewel red. The back part is worn and has holes in places, it is a print from the same era but has faded into a tobacco brown. However on the smaller piece, underneath this faded print, some of the fabric used for padding shows through and it is an 18th century indigo flamme. Fabric was valuable before the 20th century, and when things wore out, they were universally repurposed, even in wealthier households. Thus the padding for this cantonnière predates the external fabric by 60 or so years or more. The smaller piece has been cut at both ends, it measures 48x146cm. The other piece is circular, and measures 36cm deep and, if it were not in a loop but laid out flat it would be 612cm long. There is a small section at one edge showing some loss, it looks like someone (or something!) has taken a small bite out of this edge, but otherwise this is in good condition. This could still be used for its original purpose, or as a beautiful display piece - the colours are gorgeous and still strong, and the smaller piece, where the indigo flamme shows through the later backing, has its own beauty.