A mulquinier
'The mulquinerie is the activity of weaving and trade in fine fabrics composed exclusively of linen: batiste , linon, linen fabric . The mulquinier is the weaver and cloth merchant.
This activity was particularly developed in the villages of Cambrésis and Thiérache in the form of a rural proto-industry, the mulquiniers having looms in their homes (in their cellars for reasons of humidity)
and
Mulquinerie, a landmark of French sartorial heritage and high craftsmanship, is the art of weaving and trading fine fabrics composed exclusively of linen: whether plain flax cloth, 'linon' or batiste. A 'mulquinier' was the artisan textile designer and weaver as well as the merchant of canvases. The mulquiniers were not only a subcategorization of the tisserand(e) artists (hand loom weavers; French pronunciation: [tisʀɑ̃]) but were also the traders of their own craft. This activity was predominantly developed within villages as a substantial rural proto-industry, hence mulquiniers working on métiers à tisser in their home' basement while breathing from "bahottes" or "blocures" to obtain the most propitious humidity levels.'
1 Even today painting on linen rather than canvas is regarded as using the best 'substrate' for the art work.
2 A mulquinier as a maker and trader had more control over the prices they could obtain for the product.
