Nature and particular flowers have influenced patterns in textiles for centuries, from intricately embroidered Chinese silks with peonies to woven Persian carpets. This collection of free vintage floral patterns for textiles focuses on early 19th-century drawings.
Most of the floral prints on Pictureboxblue are vintage botanical paintings from Natural history books by artists such as the famous Pierre- Joseph Redoute. I thought for a change I would add a different type of flower drawing, those that are used for textile designs.
I’ve already featured some art nouveau floral design patterns of Maurice Pillard Verneuil and Christopher Dresser designs. These floral patterns were translated onto ceramics, textiles, and wallpapers.
The textile flower patterns in this collection are from the early 1800s when Chintz was very popular. They were designed before the fabulous floral patterns of William Morris.
Chintz Floral Patterns
Most printed textiles in this era involved different flowers and leaves found in nature. The cloth was printed with these floral motives in various colours. Typically, it is on a light, plain background known as Chintz.
Chintz originated in India. The cheap and popular cloth was introduced to Europe by British and Dutch Merchants in the 17th Century. The French and English banned the import of Chintz until their mills learnt how to make and print the fabrics themselves.
With the Industrial Revolution, textile production increased massively. In particular, floral pattern fabrics increased once the mills learned to print colorful flowers onto cotton fabrics.
Modern chintz usually consists of bright overall floral patterns printed on a light background, but some popular patterns are on dark backgrounds.
The most common flowers used with these vintage floral pattern designs are roses, sunflowers, tulips, jasmine, shoe flowers, daisies, carnations, etc.
The Vintage Floral Pattern Drawings
Unfortunately, I do not know the original artist who painted many of these beautiful vintage floral pattern drawings. However, I know that they were initially used for textile designs. They were painted at the beginning of the 19th Century.
This collection of flower drawings is from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York. The Cooper Hewitt is part of the Smithsonian group of museums and its collections focus on decorative and design objects.
To print the vintage floral pattern design you want, click on the title above it. A higher-resolution drawing will then open in a new window on your browser. Right-click on the image with your mouse, and you will have the option to save it to your hard drive.
All the floral drawings are in the Public Domain. You are free to use them how you wish, whether it is to print and frame them for your home, or perhaps to use the flowers for crafting such as decoupage and journaling.
The collection of floral design prints is divided into three sections: designs on a light background, floral borders, and dark backgrounds.
Vintage Floral Pattern Designs For Textiles Light Background
1. Multi-colored floral and leaf design on white ground
A few of the flowers in this pattern design look like poppies. The little blue flowers especially look a bit like Himalayan poppies.
These flowers are painted in gouache on woven paper.
3. Multi-colored leaf and berry design
4. Multi-colored floral and vine leaf pattern
5. Vintage Floral Pattern Multi-Colored
6. Scattered flower and leaf designs accented with a fine dotted pattern
7. Multi-colored flowers, green and yellow leaves on lilac branches
8. Pansy-like flowers, green leaves on bamboo branches
9. Intertwining pattern of pink, purple and blue flowers
Vintage Floral Pattern Border Designs For Textiles
These floral border patterns are inscribed in ink in the bottom right corner, Jean DuBois le Onze May 1801.
10. Floral border design, pink flowers, green and brown leaves
11. Flower border design, pink, yellow, blue flowers, green and yellow leaves
12. Vintage Floral border pattern, pink pansies, bluebells, green leaves
13. Flower border design, pink dahlias, purple and yellow tulips, green and yellow leaves
Vintage Floral Pattern Designs For Textiles Dark Background
14. Four green ferns, four red flowers, four blue and white flowers against a black background
15. Pink, purple and yellow tulips
l6. Floral Pattern White and pink flowers
17. Orange, purple, pink, and white flowers on dotted brown and black ground
18. Pink, purple, orange flowers intertwined with small white flowers with blue centers
I hope you enjoyed the vintage floral textile design prints. You might also want to check some of the other vintage pattern designs featured on Pictureboxblue.
- Japanese Art Design Prints
- Vintage Kimono Art
- Owen Jones Grammar of Ornament
- Traditional Chinese Patterns
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Jennifer Watson
Monday 8th of March 2021
So lovely, thankyou!
claire
Tuesday 9th of March 2021
Cheers and thank you so much
Naush Samama
Monday 18th of January 2021
These are such gorgeous designs. Some so intricate while some are whimsical. Love it ! Thank you for sharing with us at Meraki Link Party. Have a wonderful week. Naush
claire
Tuesday 19th of January 2021
Thank you, it is amazing to think they are over 100 years old .
Cecilia
Sunday 17th of January 2021
I love these beautiful florals! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
claire
Tuesday 19th of January 2021
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed them.
Ann
Saturday 16th of January 2021
These are such beautiful images. Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ's.
claire
Saturday 16th of January 2021
Thank you so much, glad you appreciate them.
Karen Mary
Friday 15th of January 2021
I love floral textiles, and these are unusual and beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
claire
Saturday 16th of January 2021
Thank you, it is amazing when you see old designs how current they seem sometimes.