1744 Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht

18th-Century Swedish Floral Print – Historic Cotton Design, ca. 1730–1749

Product Description

This design is a detailed reconstruction of an early- to mid-18th-century Swedish floral print, defined by large, boldly rendered blossoms combined with finer secondary flowers, leaves, and scrolling stems. The composition is rich and continuous, forming a dense all-over pattern that repeats seamlessly and maintains visual balance across larger fabric surfaces.

The motif structure alternates between dominant floral forms and lighter botanical elements, creating depth and rhythm typical of advanced Scandinavian printed cottons of the period. The restrained colour palette on a light ground gives the design a crisp, graphic character while preserving the intricacy and hand-drawn quality associated with multi-stage block printing.

The pattern performs particularly well in full-scale applications, where the interplay between large flowers and delicate filler motifs can be fully appreciated.

Well suited for:
Rococo and early Gustavian garments
Bunad aprons, petticoats, and traditional dress elements
Bed hangings, curtains, and historically informed interiors

Design & Historical Context

The source material originates from a rare historical collection assembled by Anders Berch (1711–1774), professor and early pioneer of economic and industrial studies in Sweden. The pattern is preserved as a printed paper sample, likely used as a reference or production model within 18th-century textile manufacture, offering valuable insight into Swedish design practices of the period.

Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht (1718–1763) was one of Sweden’s most influential writers of the Age of Liberty. A key figure of the early Enlightenment, she advocated reason, education, and women’s intellectual rights and helped shape the modern role of the professional author.

As a leading member of Tankebyggarorden, she set the agenda for contemporary intellectual debate.