Not currently on display at the V&A

Composite

Furnishing Fabric
1987 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This textile has been discharge-printed, a process whereby a coloured fabric is printed with chlorine to bleach out specific areas in order to create a design. Timney Fowler chose to use this technique on a soft cotton velvet: the resulting effect suggests the diaphonous quality of an aquatint, with the disembodied motifs appearing to 'float' across the surface.

Entitled 'Composite', or 'Collage', the design belongs to the company's 'Neo Classical' range, which combined sober neo-classical motifs with a monochromatic palette. However, there is a playful element of the surreal about this design, seen in the juxtaposition of fragmentary architectural features such as corinthian columns, busts, friezes and capitals with more unusual forms, such as zebras and fish.


Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • Composite (manufacturer's title)
  • Neo Classical (series title)
  • Collage (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Discharge-printed cotton velvet
Brief description
Furnishing fabric 'Composite' of discharge-printed cotton velvet, made by Timney Fowler Ltd., Great Britain, printed in 1987
Physical description
Furnishing fabric of discharge-printed cotton velvet.
Credit line
Given by the makers
Object history
Registered File number 1988/1469.
Production
Known both as 'Composite' and 'Collage'.
Summary
This textile has been discharge-printed, a process whereby a coloured fabric is printed with chlorine to bleach out specific areas in order to create a design. Timney Fowler chose to use this technique on a soft cotton velvet: the resulting effect suggests the diaphonous quality of an aquatint, with the disembodied motifs appearing to 'float' across the surface.

Entitled 'Composite', or 'Collage', the design belongs to the company's 'Neo Classical' range, which combined sober neo-classical motifs with a monochromatic palette. However, there is a playful element of the surreal about this design, seen in the juxtaposition of fragmentary architectural features such as corinthian columns, busts, friezes and capitals with more unusual forms, such as zebras and fish.
Collection
Accession number
T.205-1989

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Record createdApril 5, 2007
Record URL
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