Alsace Collection

Without getting into all the different treaties which made Alsace either French or German territory, this region has always been dynamic and inventive. A small anecdote: we know that in 1579, a collection of roughly 40 embroidery patterns were printed in Strasbourg. The 18th century was marked by a long period of peace and prosperity leading the region to an advanced industrial development with, among other things, the opening of the first ever indienne fabric manufactory in Mulhouse in 1746.

After the French Revolution, all the territories making up Alsace become French, including the Mulhouse Republic, at the time allied with the Swiss Confederation. And then Bang! The war in 1870 turned it all upside down. The Alsace and Lorraine regions were conquered by German troops. On leaving the National Assembly, the politicians from Alsace and Lorraine made a declaration: “your brothers in Alsace and Lorraine, separated at this time from their common family, will preserve a fraternal affection for France, absent from their homes, until the day that they are reunited”. This happened in November 1918 at the end of the First World War, the famous Treaty of Versailles.

However, this period of almost 50 years of separation led to the development in France of popular illustrations with notably a theme of women in traditional costumes with captions stating “ We haven’t forgotten you”. All these images contributed to popularising the costumes and traditions, appropriated by many French people in solidarity. The Second World War again separated the Alsace and Lorraine regions from France when they were annexed by the Third Reich.

Other than their wines and gastronomy, Alsace is also renowned for its fabrics, the famous Kelsch woven in linen, hemp or cotton. Checkered cloths, mainly in red and blue, originally meant for bed linen and alcoves.
Alsace also produced a huge amount of indienne fabrics, notably the company Dollfus, Mieg & Cie. Glazed pottery with pitchers, tureens, and dishes decorated with floral motifs are also a regional tradition.
Not forgetting the famous Encyclopaedia of Needlework by Thérèse de Dillemont, published in 1884, which became the reference worldwide for stitchers after several dozen reeditions and translations in seventeen languages. The last edition was in 1993.