Paris Fashions – 1846

Mid-19th Century French Hand-Colored Lithography by Aubert

This rare 1846 antique fashion print, published in Paris by Aubert et Cie for the journal Les Modes Parisiennes, showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of romantic-era steel plate engraving and hand-tinted watercoloring. The graphic composition centers around a domestic parlor setting, capturing a wealthy mother in an opulent mint-green silk taffeta dress. Her high-collared bodice is paired with a intricate white embroidered pelerine lace fichu from the boutique of Mme Payan, demonstrating the meticulous detail sought after by nineteenth-century fine art collectors and costume curators.

Antique Bourgeois Domestic Life and French Dressmaker Archives

The detailed historical typography at the margin of this vintage plate documents the elite network of mid-Victorian French couturiers, citing specific children’s designs by Mme Maurendar of Rue St. Honoré and millinery by Mlle Romain. The children’s attire displays distinct tailored lines, including a girl’s structured royal-blue walking coat over long linen pantalettes, and a boy’s miniature plaid caped tunic. Ideal for interior decoration in design studios or historical research, this archival print preserves the commercial history of luxury boutiques near the Chaussée d’Antin and the Paris Bourse.