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

Sultan

Furnishing Fabric
1870-1874 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This Jacquard woven silk furnishing fabric was designed by Owen Jones for Warner, Sillett & Ramm in about 1870 to 1874. Jones trained as an architect and travelled to the Middle East where he made a study of decorative art. In 1856 he published the Grammar of Ornament, analysing patterns and colours from many periods and cultures and the book became an invaluable source for many designers.

Jones believed that reproducing flowers and similar objects in a naturalistic way was in bad taste. He preferred to create stylised motifs and designed a range of high quality silks using this type of pattern for leading manufacturers like Warner, Sillett & Ramm. This design, entitled 'Sultan', is inspired by stylised Asian flower designs.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSultan (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Jacquard woven silk
Brief description
Furnishing fabric 'Sultan' of Jacquard woven silk, designed by Owen Jones for Warner, Sillett & Ramm, Spitalfields, England, 1870-1874
Physical description
Furnishing fabric of Jacquard woven silk. With stems of fantastic flowers and leaves striped red and cream, black and cream, cream and green-blue on a pale green-blue barred with red and black in a bold woven effect.
Dimensions
  • Length: 73.5cm
  • Width: 52cm
Marks and inscriptions
'273' (On a W&S label stuck on the back)
Credit line
Given by Warner & Sons Ltd.
Summary
This Jacquard woven silk furnishing fabric was designed by Owen Jones for Warner, Sillett & Ramm in about 1870 to 1874. Jones trained as an architect and travelled to the Middle East where he made a study of decorative art. In 1856 he published the Grammar of Ornament, analysing patterns and colours from many periods and cultures and the book became an invaluable source for many designers.

Jones believed that reproducing flowers and similar objects in a naturalistic way was in bad taste. He preferred to create stylised motifs and designed a range of high quality silks using this type of pattern for leading manufacturers like Warner, Sillett & Ramm. This design, entitled 'Sultan', is inspired by stylised Asian flower designs.
Associated object
CIRC.294-1953 (Colourway)
Bibliographic reference
Parry, Linda. British Textiles from 1850 to 1900 London : Victoria and Albert Museum 1993. Plate 65.
Collection
Accession number
T.163-1972

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Record createdJanuary 6, 2004
Record URL
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