The fabrics decorating the Emperor’s small bedroom at Fontainebleau were considered furnishings in their own right.
He had originally ordered them for the Ambassador’s Room in the Château de Saint-Cloud (destroyed during the war of 1870).
Designed by Jean-François Bony and executed by Camille Pernon, it is thus described: a flecked prune velvet base teeming with sprigs of flowers and bay leaves.
Napoléon and Joséphine played an important part in reviving the cloth mills in the Lyon region, passing lavish orders for Saint-Cloud, Meudon, Fontainebleau, Les Tuileries as well as Versailles.
This furnishing, however, never made it to Saint-Cloud and was finally installed at Fontainebleau in 1808. Judged too dark, the cloth was entrusted to the Maison Picot to lighten the prune base with an embroidery in pale yellow silk, which in reality appears ecru. As the floral motif is impressive, I have chosen for this cross-stitch interpretation to leave the base in ecru to differentiate the flowers and leaves.
Here is a pattern chart to realize a large cushion with main motif and bordures of the Emperor’s bedchamber in Fontainebleau castle.
Size of motif: 340 stitches wide by 274 stitches high.
When embroidered on 12 count (per cm) linen, the finished project measures 56.7 x 45.7cm.
The kit contains:
- full-colour pattern chart is printed on two 60 x 28cm sheets with all necessary explanations;
- one large 70cm square of linen fabric, colour off white;
- 23 cards of Retors du Nord embroidery floss: 2005 x 4, 2012 x 4, 2024 x 2, 2028 x 2, 2029 x 3, 2034 x 3, 2749 x 5;
- 100% cotton fabric 70 x 55cm;
- a Sajou “Créé par moi” label (Made by me).
Presented in a Sajou square box.
