Curtain, Edinburgh Weavers, Ben Nicholson 'Horizontal' fabric with Dunn's logo printed on lining, post 1937

Single curtain in Edinburgh Weavers 'Horizontal' fabric, lined with fabric displaying Dunn's logo. Wheat-gold, blue, cream and burgundy geometric pattern.

Given by Jennifer Opie

The curtain was made for the displays within the Bromley department store, Dunn’s and is lined with fabric printed with the brand’s logo. The store became a vital centre of contemporary, progressive design from the late 1930s and again from the 1950s through to the 1970s under Geoffrey Dunn’s energetic modern vision. Dunn introduced the likes of furniture by Aalto and Mathsson, carpets by Marion Dorn and ceramics by Leach and Cardew setting them in considered displays against a plain white backdrop. The curtain was previousy owned by Geoffrey Dunn.

Involvement in textiles form a notable part of Ben Nicholson’s career. There are two distinct areas of activity: lino block printed textiles, generally carved and printed in his studio and marketed and sold in the same way as his paintings and design work for textile manufacturers. ‘Horizontal’ is an example of the latter. This simple pattern reflects his artistic practice of the time and embodies the Constructivist objectives he shared with Morton, the director of Edinburgh Weavers.

T.109-2022