From the 1890s, a matched pair of antique sewing appliqués featuring metallic bronze bullion thread and richly colored Chinese silk floss in an elegant Stile Floreale floral motif. Perfect for vintage garment restoration, couture-inspired sewing, millinery trimming, or as collectible textile art.
Era: 1890s, Victorian
Quantity: Two, offered as a pair.
Size: 7 × 5 cm (2 3/4 inches x 2 inches)
Condition: Excellent
Colors: Magenta red, Analine Red, Greens, metallic bronze
Materials: Fine metallic bronze bullion threads expertly manufactured in France, premium Chinese silk floss
Origin: France
Additional Information:
Featuring the signature curving, organic lines of the late 19th-century Stile Floreale (Italian Art Nouveau) movement, these appliqués showcase meticulous hand-workmanship. During this period, French couture and millinery ateliers relied on intricate metal bullion thread paired with fine Chinese silk floss to create sculptural, high-relief embellishments for evening gowns and ceremonial garments.
The Dye and Color History:
The vivid, high-saturation colors seen in the Chinese silk floss are a direct result of the late 19th-century chemical revolution. Following mid-century breakthroughs in Europe, synthetic aniline dyes (invented in the 1850s) rapidly replaced expensive natural dyes, introducing brilliant, electric shades like magenta, aniline red, and bright greens to the global textile market.
By the 1890s, these industrial dye formulas were utilized in major silk-producing centers across China to supply the booming European trade. This global supply loop allowed commercial millinery and garment makers to source striking, fade-resistant silk floss designed to stand out under the gaslight and early electric lighting of the late Victorian era.
