Panel 1860 - 1880

This is a woven panel by Mathevon et Bouvard, but without a date we can only guess as to when it was made. The design gives us some clues, though: its stylized naturalism and the high level of detail are typical of French textiles during the second half of the 19th century. The image references older traditions, such as the palmette which was used in ancient Greece. It's also clearly an expensive item, and the designers were likely influenced by the aesthetics of luxury goods, such as silks and tapestries, aimed at the wealthy and powerful. Without knowing more about the company, it’s hard to say exactly how this piece fits into French social or institutional history. But the overall design suggests a desire to create a sense of sophistication and elegance, for a specific market of consumers. To understand it better, we could look at similar textiles from the period. By doing so, we might better understand how these commercial workshops operated, and the social world that gave rise to this kind of design.