The old topic didn't make it to the new forum. That makes adding more links a bit complicated- here's version 2. In a rare moment of foresightful thinking I did save the original post.
Ornaments, patterns and other stuff that may serve as inspiration for painting shields, banners, kimono patterns, … or that might come in handy for decorating scenery (e.g. wallpapers/ pictures)
All the links are for books on archive.org- they're readable online as well as downloadable (as pdf files). Some of the books have several hundred pages, so before you download them you may want to preview them. To do so, click 'read online'. I'd suggest clicking the 'thumbnail view' button to quickly skim through the books to see if they're of any use to you. You may find just one or two pics of interest in a book- in that case zoom into the pic a bit, then simply right click and save the pic.
ornaments & patterns in general
- Historic styles of ornament (1898) by Dolmetsch, H
- Drawing and designing in a series of lessons (1889) by Leland, Charles Godfrey
- Ornamental design (1888) by Lewis Foreman, Day
- Pattern design : a book for students treating in a practical way of the anatomy, planning & evolution of repeated ornament (1915) by Lewis Foreman, Day
- The grammar of ornament : a book for students treating in a practical way of the anatomy, planning & evolution of repeated ornament (1856) by Jones, Owen
floral ornaments
- A book of studies in plant form with some suggestions for their application to design (1896) by Lilley, A. E. V; Midgeley, W.
- Heraldry and floral forms as used in decoration (1922) by Cole, Herbert
Japanese art
- Shin-bijutsukai Vol. 1 (~1900)
- Shin-bijutsukai Vol. 2 (~1900)
- Studies in the decorative art of Japan (1910) by Piggott, Francis Taylor, Sir
- Mythological Japan : the symbolisms of mythology in relation to Japanese art, with illustrations drawn in Japan, by native artists (1902) by Otto, Alexander Francis
- Book of kimono designs (1884) by Kabutama, Nagamari
Celtic
- The elements of Celtic art (1922) by Carmichael, E. K
- Celtic art in pagan and Christian times (1912) by Allen, J. Romilly
Renaissance
- Ornamental details of the Italian Renaissance (1920) by Blakeslee, Arthur L
new additions
Some of the pages sometimes will look a bit odd, if you save the pdf and than have a look through that they look just fine though. :
more Ornaments
Combinaisons Ornementales Alphonse Mucha et al.
Textiles & clothing
Protective clothing for women and girl workers employed in the factories and workshops (1917) by Home Office
being mainly bw pics probably more suited for people looking to convert or sculpt minis
The following all contain textile or yarn samples, sometimes patterned and occasionally quite vividly coloured and were published by dye manufacturers:
Velveteen dyed with Immedial colours and discharged with hyraldite (1910) by Cassella Color Company
Hydron blue G and R (1911) by Cassella Color Company
Garment dyeing (1910) by Cassella Color Company
Standard colours on cotton : printed and discharged (1900) I.G. Farbenindustrie Aktiengesellschaft
Garment dyeing (1912) Bayer
Wool colours (1913) Bayer
Salicine colors on slubbing Kalle & Co., a.g
The coal tar colours (1896) Höchst
The coal tar colours (1907) Höchst (quite like this one as it has a bit of everything from mattress cloths to cloth for shirts)
A manual of dyeing (1893) Knecht, Edmund et al.