Not currently on display at the V&A

Dress Fabric

1937 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Calico Printers' Association, at its formation in 1899, accounted for 85% of Britain's printed textile output.

This dress fabric of printed cotton is adorned with repeating images of Pierrot, a French tragicomic pantomime character. Here Pierrot has been reduced to his most basic features; a wide collar, hat and fools' outfit. He is shown dancing hand-in-hand with other Pierrots, their sharply-angled limbs forming geometric shapes. Unusually, Pierrot's costume here is predominantly blue, rather than the traditional white.

This design shows the Calico Printers' Association's commitment to realising traditional images in up-to-date styles.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Printed cotton
Brief description
Dress fabric of printed cotton, made by Calico Printers' Association, Great Britain, 1937
Physical description
Dress fabric of printed cotton.
Credit line
Given by Manchester Design Registry
Object history
Registered File number 1974/3231.
Registration number 375781.
Summary
The Calico Printers' Association, at its formation in 1899, accounted for 85% of Britain's printed textile output.

This dress fabric of printed cotton is adorned with repeating images of Pierrot, a French tragicomic pantomime character. Here Pierrot has been reduced to his most basic features; a wide collar, hat and fools' outfit. He is shown dancing hand-in-hand with other Pierrots, their sharply-angled limbs forming geometric shapes. Unusually, Pierrot's costume here is predominantly blue, rather than the traditional white.

This design shows the Calico Printers' Association's commitment to realising traditional images in up-to-date styles.
Collection
Accession number
T.267-1987

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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