A beautiful boxed Sajou cross stitch kit to embroider a cushion inspired by the fabrics of the Emperor’s small bedroom at Fontainebleau — and the rather convoluted history of how they got there.
Napoléon had originally commissioned the fabric for the Ambassador’s Room at the Château de Saint-Cloud, designed by Jean-François Bony and executed by Camille Pernon: a flecked prune velvet scattered with sprigs of flowers and bay leaves. Saint-Cloud was eventually destroyed in the war of 1870, but the fabric never made it there in any case — it was finally installed at Fontainebleau in 1808 instead. There, it was judged too dark, and the Maison Picot were commissioned to lighten the prune ground with an embroidery in pale yellow silk, which in reality reads as ecru.
Napoléon and Joséphine played a significant role in reviving the cloth mills of the Lyon region, placing lavish orders for Saint-Cloud, Meudon, Fontainebleau, Les Tuileries and Versailles. These furnishings are a small but beautifully telling part of that story.
The motif measures 340 x 274 stitches, giving a finished cushion size of approximately 56.7 x 45.7 cm.
The kit includes:
Full-colour pattern chart printed on two 60 x 28 cm sheets, with all necessary instructions
A 70 cm square of off-white embroidery linen
100% cotton backing fabric, 70 x 55 cm
23 cards of Retors du Nord embroidery thread: 2005 x 4, 2012 x 4, 2024 x 2, 2028 x 2, 2029 x 3, 2034 x 3, 2749 x 5
A Sajou ‘Créé par moi’ (Made by me) label
You will find the companion Emperor’s Carpet and Empress Joséphine’s Roses cushion kits in my shop, along with the full Napoleon and Joséphine boxed kit and other Museum & Heritage designs.
1st chart i ordered. So pleased I've ordered 2 more different bayeux tapestry charts. Quality is brilliant. Looking forward to Stitching. Came well packed. Thank you
One of 4 charts I've brought from this seller. Just as described. Detailed clear chart. Easy to read. Seller goes out of her way to help. Top seller. Thank you.
