1795 Sophie Bawr

1785–1795 Block Printed Cotton – Late 18th-Century French Design

Product Description

This design is inspired by an original late 18th-century printed cotton, dated 1785–1795. The surviving fragment was block printed in mordant style on plain-woven cotton—a technique valued for producing rich, durable colours with remarkable depth.

An intriguing detail may explain why this fragment survived. Evidence suggests the dressmaker accidentally cut the fabric upside down. When studying the original, the front bodice piece is still clearly visible in the layout of the print. This small human error likely preserved the textile, leaving us a rare glimpse into the practical realities of 18th-century dressmaking.

Printed cottons from late 18th-century France were among the most influential textiles in Europe. Their clarity of line, elegant structure, and refined colour palettes made them highly desirable for dresses, petticoats, and interior use.

The pattern reflects the structured elegance of the late Rococo transitioning into early Neoclassicism, making it especially suitable for historically informed garment reconstructions and refined period interiors.