Millefleur

Millefleur, millefleurs or mille-fleur (French mille-fleurs, literally "thousand flowers") refers to a composition with many different small flowers and plants in the background, usually against a green ground, as though growing in grass. It is primarily associated with European tapestry during the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, from about 1400 to 1550, but mostly appears around 1480–1520. The style was revived by Morris & Co. in 19th-century England, appearing in original tapestry designs and illustrations for Kelmscott Press publications.

The millefleur style differs from many other styles of floral decoration, such as the arabesque, because different types of individual plants are shown in isolation without a regular pattern or overlap. This differs from plant and floral decorations on page borders of Gothic illuminated manuscripts.

In the 15th century, an elaborate glass making technique was developed. See Millefiori, Murano glass and other glassmakers make pieces, particularly paper weights, that use the motif.

A different style also known as millefleur appears in Indian carpets from about 1650 to 1800.