Textile Designs on Paper

An Archive from Early 19th-Century France

Textile Designs on Paper will be Byzantium’s third publication and Barbara Hodgson and Claudia Cohen’s 14th collaboration.

For this book we are fortunate to be working with textile historian and author Susan Meller, whose expertise and participation have made this project possible. Her collection of 19th–century French albums filled with small pattern designs painted in gouache is the basis for this unique book.

Each copy includes approximately 90 of these exquisite gouache paintings, along with an essay by Susan on the history of the designs, techniques and uses of printed French textiles; and an essay by Barbara on the pigments and dyes used to produce the paintings and the related fabrics. Each copy also includes a booklet of textile swatches that complement the gouache designs, a dye sampler of typical hues and a colour card of the gouache paints that were used in the designs.

The text, set in Fournier, was printed with a handpress at Heavenly Monkey on dampened Arches wove. The book will be issued in two states, both bound and boxed by Claudia. Copies 1–10 (and I-IV), will be bound in full leather with onlays and gold stamping and tooling, and issued with an additional textile sample book. Copies 11-26 will be bound in quarter leather with Claudia’s paste papers over boards and leather fore-edges, and with gold stamping and tooling.

Copies can be reserved and are scheduled to be ready for shipping by late 2025. If you would like information about reserving a copy of this book, please contact us at bhbyzantium@gmail.com.