The woollen beaded fabrics from Roubaix (Fr) woven in 1886.   

Augusta Uhlenbeck.
   

During the 19 th century in the north of France, especially in Tourcoing, Roubaix and the surrounding areas, textile industry was highly productive, on technically as well as artistically level. Looms equipped with the jacquard selection mechanism were in operation throughout the North of France. In contrast, in the southern part of France, particularly in and around Lyon, draw-looms were still in used until the end of the nineteenth century ( 1 ).

A part of the beaded collection,”La Piscine“. Musée d’art et d’industrie André Diligent, Roubaix Fr.

 

Beaded fabrics are regularly in fashion. So it was in the year 1886 that “Le Journal de la Mode Illustrée “ mentioned in the same year (…) » Les plastrons de matinée sont faits en soie molle, en velours, ceux du soir... qui donc pourrait entreprendre de les décrire des perles surt

 

The only indication we have is, a small label on one of them with the following indication: A. Prouvost, Roubaix.

Adolphe Eutrope Prouvost (1821–1884) was the younger brother of Amadée Prouvost. He owned during the mid 19 th C till the end of the 20 th C the most important spinning mill of the whole world. Adolphe E. and his son, Adoplhe Henri. (1851-?). owned a ( the same?) textile mill (5)

By this publication on the World Wide Web I hope to achieve that I am able to string pieces of information together about this beaded collection with the co-operation off textiles minded persons. The town of Roubaix in those days was and nowadays is, a twin town of Bradford (UK). In Bradford similar samples have not (yet) been found.

In September 2003 the samples were shown during the Cieta congress in Lisbon (Portugal) without any reaction. (7) The poor Adolphe Prouvost is even forgotten by his own family, even his town Roubaix don’t remember him. Madame Prouvost born De Maigret who did family research suddenly past away at the end of 2003, closing the road to rediscovering the family.

Please if you do have any information about these amazing samples, or about Adolphe Eutrope or Adolphe Henri Prouvost please contacted me:

Augusta Uhlenbeck

E-mail: uhlenbeck-textile@wanadoo.fr

site: htpp://perso.wanadoo.fr/inverness.creation.tissus/

prix: laureate internationale de "textile design" Tokyo 1988

finaliste "international textile fair" Kyoto 1994

 

 

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/inverness.creation.tissus/Leeds/beaded%20leeds.htm