Haemoglobin 8.26
Sample Book
1951 (made)
1951 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The Festival of Britain held in 1951 provided new opportunities for textile design and manufacture. Two very distinct types of pattern emerged at this event: one was inspired by scientific, crystal-structure diagrams drawn to record arrangements of atoms in matter; the other based on abstract forms and organic shape, the so-called 'Contemporary' style. The design derived from the crystallography model Haemoglobin 8.26 design, provided by the crystallographer Max Perutz, and was made in a limited production in 1951 in seven colourways. This bronze colourway was shown in the alcove of the Regatta Restaurant and in the Festival Pattern display at the Festival.
The Festival Pattern Group was the brainchild of Mark Harland Thomas of the Council of Industrial Design. He built on the idea first put forward in 1946 by crystallographer Dr Helen Megaw that the patterns made available by X-ray crystallography were particularly appropriate for textile design because of their repetitive symmetry and natural beauty. In 1949 he brought together the group of manufacturers who produced textiles, china, carpets, linoleum and wallpaper decorated with these patterns for the Festival. The project combined science and design and was perfect for the theme of the festival, which was to be a platform for British achievement in science, technology and the arts.
The Festival Pattern Group was the brainchild of Mark Harland Thomas of the Council of Industrial Design. He built on the idea first put forward in 1946 by crystallographer Dr Helen Megaw that the patterns made available by X-ray crystallography were particularly appropriate for textile design because of their repetitive symmetry and natural beauty. In 1949 he brought together the group of manufacturers who produced textiles, china, carpets, linoleum and wallpaper decorated with these patterns for the Festival. The project combined science and design and was perfect for the theme of the festival, which was to be a platform for British achievement in science, technology and the arts.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Haemoglobin 8.26 (manufacturer's title) |
Materials and techniques | Woven silk |
Brief description | Sample book of silk fabric samples, 'Haemoglobin 8.26', designed by Bernard Rowland, manufactured by Vanners & Fennel Ltd, England, 1951 |
Physical description | Sample book of various woven tie silk samples, mainly red and cream on a dark blue background. The design was based on the crystal structures of haemoglobin 8.26, chalk and insulin. |
Dimensions |
|
Production type | Mass produced |
Credit line | Given anonymously |
Production | Made for retail |
Summary | The Festival of Britain held in 1951 provided new opportunities for textile design and manufacture. Two very distinct types of pattern emerged at this event: one was inspired by scientific, crystal-structure diagrams drawn to record arrangements of atoms in matter; the other based on abstract forms and organic shape, the so-called 'Contemporary' style. The design derived from the crystallography model Haemoglobin 8.26 design, provided by the crystallographer Max Perutz, and was made in a limited production in 1951 in seven colourways. This bronze colourway was shown in the alcove of the Regatta Restaurant and in the Festival Pattern display at the Festival. The Festival Pattern Group was the brainchild of Mark Harland Thomas of the Council of Industrial Design. He built on the idea first put forward in 1946 by crystallographer Dr Helen Megaw that the patterns made available by X-ray crystallography were particularly appropriate for textile design because of their repetitive symmetry and natural beauty. In 1949 he brought together the group of manufacturers who produced textiles, china, carpets, linoleum and wallpaper decorated with these patterns for the Festival. The project combined science and design and was perfect for the theme of the festival, which was to be a platform for British achievement in science, technology and the arts. |
Associated object | CIRC.66-1968 (Design) |
Bibliographic reference | Lesley Jackson. From Atoms to Patterns. Crystal structure designs from the 1951 Festival of Britain () (London, 2008), pp. 52-3. |
Collection | |
Accession number | T.446F-1977 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | January 6, 2006 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSON