Textile Designs on Paper

An Archive from Early 19th-Century France

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

For this book we were fortunate to work with textile historian and author Susan Meller, whose expertise and participation 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 is issued in two states, both bound and boxed by Claudia. Copies 1–10 (and I–IV) are bound in full leather with onlays and gold stamping and tooling and issued with an additional textile sample book. Deluxe copies are no longer available. Copies 11–26 are bound in quarter leather with Claudia’s paste papers over boards and leather fore-edges and with gold stamping and tooling. A few copies are available for purchase. If you would like more information about this book, please contact us at bhbyzantium@gmail.com.