France, Nantes

The designation France, Nantes refers to a center of production active over a period spanning nearly two centuries, from 1701 through 1875. This output focused exclusively on high-quality textiles, primarily furnishing fabrics used in domestic settings. The extended chronological range suggests a sustained workshop tradition or regional manufacturing center rather than the production of a single artisan.

Seven such textiles are documented in museum collections, confirming the consistent quality and historical significance of the output from this region. These historical furnishings, often considered museum-quality examples of eighteenth and nineteenth-century domestic décor, include components for comprehensive bed sets. Specific works represented include the Canopy for Bed Set, Curtain for Bed Set, Head cloth for Bed Set, and a Bedspread. Other forms, such as a large Panel (Furnishing Fabric), also survive.

Today, this output is internationally recognized. All seven known pieces are held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, establishing the importance of France, Nantes furnishings in the history of European decorative arts. As these works date from before the turn of the twentieth century, studies and high-quality prints derived from the original fabric patterns are frequently found in the public domain, offering broad access to these historical textile designs.