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Chintz are glazed cotton fabric often printed with figurative and large flower designs and is named from the Hindu word meaning spotted. Some glazes wash out in laundering but others such as resin finishes are permanent. Unglazed chintz is called cretonne. Chintz is used mainly for draperies, slipcovers, skirts, and summer dresses.

The first chintz or painted cotton fabric was imported to England from India as early as 1600. The original prints were those in fashion in India at the time but many English consumers did not find them appealing, so Indian textile producers began to design prints based on floral and other themes from English art.

When oriental motifs became popular in England and Europe these were also worked into the prints. The result was a fabric with a fascinating and sometimes incongruous mixture of east and west. Most popular of these prints was the Tree of Life depicting a large tree filled with a variety of species of both flowers and birds. Although these fabrics originated in India they became known as “Persian” prints. This chintz fabric was often made into bed coverings using the whole piece of cloth.

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