Shawl thumbnail 1
Shawl thumbnail 2
Not on display

Shawl

1913-1914 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Omega Workshops were founded in 1913 by the designer and painter Roger Fry (1866-1934). He brought together a group of artists to design furniture, pottery, glass, textiles and entire schemes of interior decoration. Their radically abstract style was far ahead of its time and was influenced by developments in contemporary painting. In keeping with the painting tradition, Fry believed that designs should not be too mechanical and should show evidence of the artist's hand. The workshops aimed to 'preserve the freedom and spontaneity of the original drawing', a particular issue when using the printing process.

This unique stole, painted by hand in bright clear colours on a silk base, is the epitome of freehand spontaneity. The motif - the peacock - was a staple of the Arts and Crafts movement, although here the colours and the treatment are quite different.It is thought that the stole was given as a wedding present to the dressmaker who worked for the Omega Workshops, after they had closed down.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Painted silk
Brief description
Shawl of painted silk, designed by Roger Fry for Omega Workshops, possibly made in England, 1913-1914
Physical description
Shawl of painted silk. Cream silk painted on each end with an abstract design of confronted peacocks.
Dimensions
  • Height: 60cm
  • Width: 60.5cm
  • Depth: 60.5cm
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Given by Mrs Joy Hedger
Historical context
The preparatory designs for the stole are in the Courtauld Gallery (D.1958.PD.14 and D.1958.PD.1)
Subject depicted
Summary
The Omega Workshops were founded in 1913 by the designer and painter Roger Fry (1866-1934). He brought together a group of artists to design furniture, pottery, glass, textiles and entire schemes of interior decoration. Their radically abstract style was far ahead of its time and was influenced by developments in contemporary painting. In keeping with the painting tradition, Fry believed that designs should not be too mechanical and should show evidence of the artist's hand. The workshops aimed to 'preserve the freedom and spontaneity of the original drawing', a particular issue when using the printing process.

This unique stole, painted by hand in bright clear colours on a silk base, is the epitome of freehand spontaneity. The motif - the peacock - was a staple of the Arts and Crafts movement, although here the colours and the treatment are quite different.It is thought that the stole was given as a wedding present to the dressmaker who worked for the Omega Workshops, after they had closed down.
Bibliographic reference
Beyond Bloomsbury. Designs of the Omega Workshops 1913-19, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 2009, pp. 84-5, Cat. 4.
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.640-1964

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Record createdAugust 14, 2008
Record URL
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