Napkin
1870-1880 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This strip of six linen damask napkins is still in one piece as they would have been removed from a loom after weaving. The napkins are of a high quality/grade of linen damask and compare very favourably with other linens in this collection. It is possible that the design is by Christopher Dresser, the leading commercial designer of his day, for it is known that Dresser supplied designs both to Irish damask manufacturers and also directly to London shops who then had the linens made up specifically for their own label.
Little is known about the supply of retail textile goods in London during the late 19th century so this, known to have come from the Fore Street Warehouse Company in London, potentially provides important information on middlemen or warehousemen active in the furnishing and nappery (table linens) trade.
John Pollock, the donor's grandfather, worked at the Fore Street Warehouse Company Ltd from 1875. He eventually became a director. The company is listed in the 1866 Post Office Directory as trading at 104-107 Fore Street, London.
Little is known about the supply of retail textile goods in London during the late 19th century so this, known to have come from the Fore Street Warehouse Company in London, potentially provides important information on middlemen or warehousemen active in the furnishing and nappery (table linens) trade.
John Pollock, the donor's grandfather, worked at the Fore Street Warehouse Company Ltd from 1875. He eventually became a director. The company is listed in the 1866 Post Office Directory as trading at 104-107 Fore Street, London.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Linen damask |
| Brief description | Strip of five napkins in fine linen damask of anglo-Japanese design, possibly by Christopher Dresser, probably woven in Ireland, 1870-1880 |
| Physical description | Strip of five uncut linen damask table napkins. The design shows a very typical aesthetic, anglo-Japanese pattern showing storks and other birds, hand-fans and stylised sub-Japanese devices and floral sprigs. Each napkin shows an outer figurative border with a central pattern. The strip appears as it would have originally come off a loom before each design was cut to make an individual napkin. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Credit line | Given by Mary Barnard |
| Production | Probably woven in Ireland. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This strip of six linen damask napkins is still in one piece as they would have been removed from a loom after weaving. The napkins are of a high quality/grade of linen damask and compare very favourably with other linens in this collection. It is possible that the design is by Christopher Dresser, the leading commercial designer of his day, for it is known that Dresser supplied designs both to Irish damask manufacturers and also directly to London shops who then had the linens made up specifically for their own label. Little is known about the supply of retail textile goods in London during the late 19th century so this, known to have come from the Fore Street Warehouse Company in London, potentially provides important information on middlemen or warehousemen active in the furnishing and nappery (table linens) trade. John Pollock, the donor's grandfather, worked at the Fore Street Warehouse Company Ltd from 1875. He eventually became a director. The company is listed in the 1866 Post Office Directory as trading at 104-107 Fore Street, London. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.32-2005 |
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| Record created | September 1, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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