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Pamela
Bell, Vanessa, born 1879 - died 1961 - Enlarge image
Pamela
- Object:
Furnishing fabric
- Place of origin:
Maromme (made)
England (designed) - Date:
1913 (printed)
- Artist/Maker:
Bell, Vanessa, born 1879 - died 1961 (designer)
Grant, Duncan, born 1885 - died 1978 (designer)
Omega Workshops (designed for) - Materials and Techniques:
Printed linen
- Credit Line:
Given by Miss M. Hogarth
- Museum number:
CIRC.4-1932
- Gallery location:
On short term loan out for exhibition
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 abstract 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 clients as dress fabrics. The printers are said to have used a secret process to 'preserve the freedom and spontaneity of the original drawing'. This pattern, 'Pamela', was available in several colourways.
