Printed textiles were common in all social levels in the 18th century. England was a major manufacturer and printer throughout the 18th century, as was India, where they derived many of their print patterns. In the colonies, India cotton and English goods of linen and cotton were both worn.
Dark grounded prints were popular from midcentury on, showing up in advertisements and orders. Prints could be complex multi-colored florals, to simple one and two color geometrics, sprigs or florals which were inexpensive and highly desired. In our research, we found a good number of purple backgrounds, with brown also appearing midcentury and becoming popular especially from the 1760’s-1770’s.
Our print is based on our work with the Foundling Hospital token collection, where we found several prints in a similar style, that had a purple ground, which ranged from a reddish purple to a bluish purple, with the combination of red and white. The spotted background, achieved by putting nails in the block, was a popular motif that we saw frequently during our research as well.
- These seconds have a faintly, printed zigzag every yard or so. Please see fourth photo.
- Our cotton is lightweight, matched in weight to a piece of India cotton in the Foundling collection.
- Well suited to Ladies gowns, summer jackets & petticoats, shortgowns and bedgowns, trims, linings, men’s summer wrappers & children’s clothing.
- We suggest washing in warm water in a top loading machine so that fabric is completely submerged, and line-drying prior to cutting out.
- 100% Cotton, 50 inches wide.
-
About our Reproduction Printed Cotton Fabrics.
