Border for wall fabric 1813

This is a wall fabric border that was made by Sériziat et Cie, though we don’t know exactly when. The work’s repeated pattern of flowers and leaves speaks to a very particular moment in the history of domestic life. Wall fabric like this played a key role in the development of interior decoration as a symbol of middle-class comfort and taste. In France, textile manufacturers rose to prominence in the 19th century, propelled by growing demand. Decoration was no longer restricted to the aristocracy; it was filtering down the social scale. The pattern’s organic motifs reflect the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement, which saw beauty in nature. However, its serial repetition also demonstrates the standardization made possible by industrialized manufacturing. To fully appreciate this fabric, we might study fashion and design periodicals, as well as records from the company itself. In the end, art objects like these show us how changes in social status influenced the appearance of everyday things.