Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 122

Fringe

1860-1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a simple furnishing fringe of bright purple silk. It would have been used to trim curtains or upholstered furniture. It would have been a very popular trimming in the 1860s because of its colour, and is likely to have been used with both plain silk damasks and more flamboyant multi-coloured silk furnishings.

Trimmings of all kinds were important for the furnishing of the middle class home. Fringes, in particular, were popular for attaching to the edges of embroidered accessories, such as cushions and for the tops of footstools.

This fringe is an example of the use of the first artificial dye, a purple, first made and patented in 1856. The dye was discovered by William Perkin while experimenting with quinine and soon became known as 'Perkin's mauve'. Following this discovery, from the 1860s a wide range of bright chemical dyes of many colours flooded the market.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk
Brief description
Purple fringe
Gallery label
British Galleries: Upholstery Trimmings Luxurious upholstery and soft furnishings were essential elements of French Style. Braids, ribbons, fringes and tassels all helped to add the required luxury to rooms in the form of colour and texture. Makers of passementerie (trimmings) were highly skilled. French manufacturers led the field in innovative technique and imaginative designs. British manufacturers followed their styles and adapted these for their own market.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Given by F. C. Harper
Object history
Made in England or France
Summary
This is a simple furnishing fringe of bright purple silk. It would have been used to trim curtains or upholstered furniture. It would have been a very popular trimming in the 1860s because of its colour, and is likely to have been used with both plain silk damasks and more flamboyant multi-coloured silk furnishings.

Trimmings of all kinds were important for the furnishing of the middle class home. Fringes, in particular, were popular for attaching to the edges of embroidered accessories, such as cushions and for the tops of footstools.

This fringe is an example of the use of the first artificial dye, a purple, first made and patented in 1856. The dye was discovered by William Perkin while experimenting with quinine and soon became known as 'Perkin's mauve'. Following this discovery, from the 1860s a wide range of bright chemical dyes of many colours flooded the market.
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.1587G-1923

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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