Mechtilde thumbnail 1
Not on display

Mechtilde

Furnishing Fabric
1913 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This printed linen furnishing fabric was designed and sold by The Omega Workshops Ltd. Founded in 1913 by Roger Fry, Omega Workshops was a group of artists (including Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant) who designed furniture, pottery, carpets, textiles, stained glass and whole schemes of interior decoration. The Omega textile designs were ahead of their time and set a fashion for abstract and geometric patterns. This example 'Mechtilde', is likely to have been designed by the artist Frederick Etchells, a member of the group. This simple design was also used for a carpet woven by The Wilton Royal Carpet Factory, near Salisbury, in about 1915.

Object details

Category
Object type
TitleMechtilde (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Printed linen
Brief description
printed linen 1913, British; Omega Workshops, "Mechtilde" designed by either Roger Fry or Frederick Etchells
Physical description
Printed linen furnishing fabric with a design of rows and squares linked by vertical lines, half printed with red and blue blocks of colour.
Dimensions
  • Width: 80.2cm
  • Height: 58.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • On the front: 10 twice
  • On the back: Mechtilde 10;/Mechtilde 1 (added later?)
Credit line
Given by Roger Fry
Object history
(MA/1/F1493, 13/5540 M) A.F.Kendrick minute to director on 4 Dec 1913 notes gift of seven pieces of modern printed fabrics to Museum: 'Seven specimens of "post-impressionism" as applied to the printing of linen fabrics were lent by Mr Fry to Mr Lindsay to show at his evening lectures here. I asked if he would give them (as they may become great curiosities in the future) and he consents. If you agree to their acceptance I will put the usual procedure into practice.' Applied to T.386-T.390-1913.
Summary
This printed linen furnishing fabric was designed and sold by The Omega Workshops Ltd. Founded in 1913 by Roger Fry, Omega Workshops was a group of artists (including Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant) who designed furniture, pottery, carpets, textiles, stained glass and whole schemes of interior decoration. The Omega textile designs were ahead of their time and set a fashion for abstract and geometric patterns. This example 'Mechtilde', is likely to have been designed by the artist Frederick Etchells, a member of the group. This simple design was also used for a carpet woven by The Wilton Royal Carpet Factory, near Salisbury, in about 1915.
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Beyond Bloomsbury. Designs of the Omega Workshops 1913-19, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 2009, p. 119, cat. 35I.
Collection
Accession number
T.390-1913

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Record createdAugust 14, 2008
Record URL
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