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.
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 |
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| Production type | Unique |
| 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 created | August 14, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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