Golden Harvest thumbnail 1
Golden Harvest thumbnail 2
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Not currently on display at the V&A

Golden Harvest

Furnishing Fabric
1960s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Born in Trinidad and trained in London, Althea McNish was quickly taken up by the thriving British textile industry in the late 1950s. She had a successful career as a freelance designer to companies such as Heal Fabrics, Ascher, Hull Traders, Liberty and Edinburgh Weavers before working on hand-painted textile hangings. Her designs are characterised by a vibrant choice of colour and free, painterly arrangements.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Furnishing Fabric
  • Furnishing Fabric
  • Furnishing Fabric
TitleGolden Harvest (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Printed cotton satin
Brief description
Furnishing fabric 'Golden Harvest' of printed heavy cotton satin, designed by Althea McNish for Hull Traders Ltd., Great Britain, 1960s
Physical description
Furnishing fabric of printed heavy cotton satin in 4 colours.
Dimensions
  • Largest textile, measured along top edge width: 1265mm (Maximum)
  • Largest textile length: 1380mm (Maximum)
  • Green colourway width: 620mm (Maximum)
  • Green colourway length: 708mm (Maximum)
  • Blue colourway length: 600mm (Maximum)
  • Blue colourway width: 616mm (Maximum)
  • Yellow colourway length: 620mm (Maximum)
  • Yellow colourway width: 620mm (Maximum)
Measured by conservation
Credit line
Given by the makers
Object history
Designed during her last year at the Royal College of Art, ‘Golden Harvest’ was inspired by early morning sun on a wheat field near the Essex home of Edward Bawden, where McNish was staying as a guest. The first production of this pattern was by Tofos Prints (textile printers based behind the Royal College) for use in a school. It was added to the Tofos Prints collection which was then incorporated into Hull Traders’ Time Present collection. It was Hull Traders’ overall bestselling design.

Registered File number 1977/2184.
Summary
Born in Trinidad and trained in London, Althea McNish was quickly taken up by the thriving British textile industry in the late 1950s. She had a successful career as a freelance designer to companies such as Heal Fabrics, Ascher, Hull Traders, Liberty and Edinburgh Weavers before working on hand-painted textile hangings. Her designs are characterised by a vibrant choice of colour and free, painterly arrangements.
Collection
Accession number
T.178-1989

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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