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Furnishing Fabric thumbnail 2
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Furnishing Fabric

ca. 1795 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The detailed drawing of this design is reminiscent of hand-painted Indian cottons which had been popular imports into Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries, although their import was controlled by legislation intended to protect the home textile industries of wool and silk weaving. This example is known to be English because it has three blue threads woven into the selvedge, a legal requirement for English cottons (relating to the payment of duty) under legislation in force between 1774 and 1811.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Block printed cotton
Brief description
printed cotton,1780-1810,English
Physical description
Furnishing fabric with a design of fantastic flowers with pencilled blue.
Dimensions
  • Length: 81cm
  • Width: 48cm
Production typeMass produced
Gallery label
This furnishing fabric is inspired in its design and colouring by imported Indian chintzes. Its colours were built up with a series of wood blocks carrying madder colours with different mordants to produce the shades required. Blue and green (blue over yellow) were added by painting or 'pencilling' indigo with a brush.
Subject depicted
Summary
The detailed drawing of this design is reminiscent of hand-painted Indian cottons which had been popular imports into Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries, although their import was controlled by legislation intended to protect the home textile industries of wool and silk weaving. This example is known to be English because it has three blue threads woven into the selvedge, a legal requirement for English cottons (relating to the payment of duty) under legislation in force between 1774 and 1811.
Collection
Accession number
422-1887

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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