Length of Turkey Red floral printed cotton dress fabric

This piece of roller printed cotton has a stylised floral pattern with a slight paisley influence, seen especially in the small patterns used as fillings for larger shapes. The small scale of the printed pattern and light-weight cotton fabric indicate this was probably intended for use as a dress fabric, although this length appears to be unused.

The vivid colours, including the distinctive Turkey Red, and crisp details would have required precision and expertise to create and are a testament to the skill of the workers as well as the advances in printing and dyeing that were continuously evolving throughout the 19th century as manufacturers sought to create ever more fashionable and desirable fabrics for consumers.

• Exhibition: Cloth Cultures - Cotton

• Category: Clothing
• Category: Samples and Commercial Textiles
• Date: 1851-1900
• Material: Cotton
• Place: Great Britain
• Technique: Printing