Maud
Furnishing Fabric
1913 (made)
1913 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Omega Workshops were founded in 1913 by the designer and painter Roger Fry (1866-1934). He brought together a group of artists to design furniture, pottery, glass, textiles and entire schemes of interior decoration. Their radically style, typified by this textile, was far ahead of its time and was influenced by developments in contemporary painting.
In keeping with the painting tradition, Fry believed that designs should not be too mechanical and should show evidence of the artist's hand. The workshops produced six printed linens which were used by the most daring as dress fabrics. The printers are said to have used a secret process to 'preserve the freedom and spontaneity of the original drawing'. 'Maud' was available in four colourways. Vanessa Bell, a painter and designer, was co-ordinator of the Omega Workshops and after they closed in 1919 she continued to design interiors schemes and textiles.
The V&A acquired several Omega textiles in 1919 as it was felt 'they might become great curiosities in the future'.
In keeping with the painting tradition, Fry believed that designs should not be too mechanical and should show evidence of the artist's hand. The workshops produced six printed linens which were used by the most daring as dress fabrics. The printers are said to have used a secret process to 'preserve the freedom and spontaneity of the original drawing'. 'Maud' was available in four colourways. Vanessa Bell, a painter and designer, was co-ordinator of the Omega Workshops and after they closed in 1919 she continued to design interiors schemes and textiles.
The V&A acquired several Omega textiles in 1919 as it was felt 'they might become great curiosities in the future'.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Maud (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Printed linen |
| Brief description | Furnishing fabric, 'Maud', printed linen, designed by Vanessa Bell, made by Besselièvre, Maromme, France, retailed by Omega Workshops, Great Britain, ca. 1913 |
| Physical description | Orange, blue-grey and green blocks of colour and a black line form a abstract pattern on a cream coloured plain weave linen ground. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | On the front: 4 |
| Credit line | Given by Mrs Margaret H. Armitage (née Bulley) |
| Summary | The Omega Workshops were founded in 1913 by the designer and painter Roger Fry (1866-1934). He brought together a group of artists to design furniture, pottery, glass, textiles and entire schemes of interior decoration. Their radically style, typified by this textile, was far ahead of its time and was influenced by developments in contemporary painting. In keeping with the painting tradition, Fry believed that designs should not be too mechanical and should show evidence of the artist's hand. The workshops produced six printed linens which were used by the most daring as dress fabrics. The printers are said to have used a secret process to 'preserve the freedom and spontaneity of the original drawing'. 'Maud' was available in four colourways. Vanessa Bell, a painter and designer, was co-ordinator of the Omega Workshops and after they closed in 1919 she continued to design interiors schemes and textiles. The V&A acquired several Omega textiles in 1919 as it was felt 'they might become great curiosities in the future'. |
| Associated object | T.388-1913 (Design) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | MISC.2:39-1934 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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