By Odile Berget

[Editor's Note: Odile Berget, active in textile circles in France, sent us the following e-mail a few weeks ago:

"This week-end I had an interesting visit to an exhibition in the south of Alsace. Mulhouse is near Germany and Switzerland. This exhibition of provencal textiles will be going on until September 2000. It could be interesting for your readers because in April 2000, we will have Quilt Europa Expo in Strasbourg, (150 kms north of Mulhouse)."

Odile was kind enough to provide the following review of the museum and the exhibit. ]

A 250 year history

In 1746, four young associates founded the first textile printworks in Mulhouse. The industry took root and flourished, bringing in its wake prosperity to the city. In 1833 the print manufacturers who made up the Societe Industrielle (Industrial Association) decided to keep a record of their products, as well as those of other regions, for the benefit of textile designers. To date, this collection of samples has grown to over 3 milllion pieces, which are accessible through the Service d'Utilisation des Documents (S.U.D.).

An unparalleled collection

Alongside the Sample books, the Museum houses nearly 50,000 textile documents: lengths of cloth, bedspreads, scarves, shawls, etc· displayed in temporary exhibitions. They serve to outline the history and the range of printed textiles, including exceptionally rare masterpieces as well as ordinary, everyday artifacts. Permanent galleries provide insight into the history and technical evolution of textile printing. Machinery, dyes and tools all tell the story of the craft.

Temporary exhibition

Fortunes de Provence
Quilted printed blankets of the Andre-Jean Cabanel's collection

From the 11/06/1999 to the 4/09/2000
Open every days except 1st January, 1st May and 25th December.

The Museum is currently exhibiting about a hundred pieces of a private collection. AndrŽ-Jean Cabanel is a farmer (olive oil, wine and truffles) in the south of France. From the youngest age, he has been passionately fond of Provencal textiles.

These marvellous pieces take advantage of the Museum's huge records. A study of textile use in the south of France during Eighteenth and Nineteenth century can be performed. This region, promoted by the proximity of Marseille harbour and the traditional Beaucaire textile fair, was opened to the world.

From the Seventeenth century, quilters have been using printed cotton from India. They have made quilted blankets, boutis and quilted garments. During this period, textiles were expensive and these pieces were used for dowries and passed from generation to generation. They were also precious gifts for important persons as town governors. These pieces were carefully kept in wardrobes, and only used to decorate houses and balconies during religious holidays such as Corpus-Christi.

Some pieces of this collection have never been washed, they are as new!!

This collection shows a range of cotton from many origins : French manufacturers (Nantes, Rouen, Jouy,and obviously Alsace region) but also England and Italy.

Also are exhibited boutis as well as petticoats or blankets (for marriages and new-born babies).
The blankets are quilted with lines or double lines (designing squares) in the middle medallion and with cable, herring-bone or leaves pattern for borders.

Some photographs show the range of designs and colors used in these provencal pieces.

MusŽe de l'Impression sur Etoffes (MISE)
14, rue J.J.Henner
B.P. 1468
F. 68072 Mulhouse
Tel : 33/3 89 46 83 00
Fax : 33/3 89 46 83 10

Guided tours in English can be arranged by appointment.
Demonstrations of woodblock printing and by copper roller take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. and during the guided tours.
A professionnal library (9,000 books) is open to the public by appointment.
A museum shop.

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