Galaxy thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Galaxy

Furnishing Fabric
ca. 1962 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

During the 1960s, furnishing textiles at British retailer Heal's reflected the changing mood of the decade. Designs developed from sober colours and geometric shapes through Pop and Op Art-inspired motifs to brightly-coloured floral patterns influenced by notions of flower power.

Tom Worthington was Heal's Design Consultant during the sixties. He was among the first to invest in contemporary textiles. He chose new schemes from freelance designers and recent art school graduates. Heal's then worked together with the designers to come up with a range of colourways in which to print the fabrics.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleGalaxy (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Printed cotton
Brief description
Furnishing fabric, 'Galaxy', green, blue and grey on natural ground, printed cotton furnishing fabric, by R Birch for Heals, British.
Physical description
Textured plain weave printed cotton, loom width, two repeats in width, design of large bright green and blue sunbursts with band of smaller sunbursts in light grey and dark grey on natural ground. Printed along right selvedge: "[arrow] top HEALS "GALAXY" BY R. BIRCH" and along left selvedge: "WOVEN & PRINTED IN ENGLAND TOP [ARROW]".
Dimensions
  • Length: 427cm
  • Width: 127cm
Credit line
Given by Heal & Son Ltd.
Summary
During the 1960s, furnishing textiles at British retailer Heal's reflected the changing mood of the decade. Designs developed from sober colours and geometric shapes through Pop and Op Art-inspired motifs to brightly-coloured floral patterns influenced by notions of flower power.

Tom Worthington was Heal's Design Consultant during the sixties. He was among the first to invest in contemporary textiles. He chose new schemes from freelance designers and recent art school graduates. Heal's then worked together with the designers to come up with a range of colourways in which to print the fabrics.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
T.266:3-1999

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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