The costliest items that could be found in a house were the textiles, they, therefore, played a key part in furnishing representational rooms as a way to impress visitors. Apart from designs for upholstered furniture such as the canopied beds illustrated above, Marot also provided designs for the actual textiles. Several repeating patterns for damasks and cut velvets are part of Marot’s body of work, as well as custom, one-off designs for more exclusive projects.
An example of a custom textile design are these remarkable hangings with their fine details and rich colours. They would form impressive decorations for a luxurious cabinet. They are hand embroidered after drawings by Marot -presumably Queen Mary II and her ladies of waiting- and are still held in the Royal Collection. Marot’s drawings gave pointers for colours for embroidery thread, very similar to current day needlework patterns.
Marot’s all embracing approach to design is clearly demonstrated in his published engravings. This can also be seen in his approach to textiles, which ranges from impressive pieces of furniture, to the arrangement of draperies, and the detailed designs of repeating patterns and hand embroidery.
