Textile Sample Book 18th - 19th century

Curator: This is a textile sample book, created sometime in the 18th or 19th century, attributed to Morant and Co. Editor: Oh, wow! It feels so… tactile, even just looking at it. I immediately want to reach out and feel the different textures. Each swatch is a whole little world. Curator: Precisely. It’s currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What we're seeing are examples of mixed media weaving techniques. Editor: And each tells its own silent story. The patterns! That deep red geometric one almost vibrates. And then that velvety green one at the top… feels like a secret garden in fabric form. I wonder who dreamt these up? Curator: Textile sample books like this played a crucial role in the design and trade of fabrics. They offered potential clients a glimpse into available patterns, colours, and textures. Beyond their commercial purpose, they provide insights into the tastes and aesthetics of the time. We can also read these patterns in terms of global exchanges in materials, production, and taste cultures. Editor: You’re so right; it's easy to forget that even something "decorative" is part of this whole system of production and exchange. But look at the variety! You’ve got these almost mathematically precise designs sitting right next to the completely lush, organic-feeling ones. It's the ultimate mood board, right? Curator: Exactly. The textures speak to the haptic turn, which privileged modes of sensory knowledge about art and materials culture, especially for consumers. I imagine high society ladies running their fingers across these strips imagining a brand-new set of curtains for their manor house! Editor: Ah, the good life. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? How many choices were involved? What caught their eye? And even though this was produced in the past, the patterns feels incredibly contemporary! Curator: Absolutely. These little swatch samples open this massive portal into history, inviting us to ponder what we perceive as visually appealing! Editor: And what those appealing visions obscure from the world around them too... Curator: Exactly. It's something to reflect on next time you're tempted by some fancy new drapery!