England
Panel
1850
Cotton, plain weave; engraved roller printed
544.8 x 60.7 cm
Restricted gift of Mrs. Homer Dixon, 1958.762

The nineteenth century saw two important advances in the printing of textiles: roller printing, which employed an engraved copper cylinder and provided greater speed of manufacture than woodblock or metal-plate printing, and artificial dyes, which allowed for brighter and fast (non-fading) colors. 

This roller-printed fabric was used for borders on quilted covers and furniture coverings.