Amenophis
Furnishing Fabric
1913 (printed)
1913 (printed)
| 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, typified by this textile, 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 produced six printed linens which were used by the most daring clients as dress fabrics. The printers are said to have used a secret process to 'preserve the freedom and spontaneity of the original drawing'. 'Amenophis' was available in several colourways. There is a photograph of Roger Fry sitting in an armchair upholstered in this fabric.
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 produced six printed linens which were used by the most daring clients as dress fabrics. The printers are said to have used a secret process to 'preserve the freedom and spontaneity of the original drawing'. 'Amenophis' was available in several colourways. There is a photograph of Roger Fry sitting in an armchair upholstered in this fabric.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Amenophis (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Stencil-printed linen |
| Brief description | Furnishing fabric 'Amenophis' of stencil-printed linen, designed by Roger Fry, Omega Workshops, England, made in Maromme, France, 1913 |
| Physical description | Furnishing fabric of stencil-printed linen with an abstract design of over-lapping irregular planes and part ovals decorated with brush marks. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Omega [with the Omega symbol on either side] (Block printed on the selvedge) |
| Credit line | Given by the Manchester Design Registry |
| Object history | This belongs to a group of five full-width pieces of linen formerly with the Design Registry in Manchester, and transferred to the V&A as part of the large collection of copyright registrations acquired by the Circulation Department in 1966. Fry registered all the printed textile designs one year after the range was launched. |
| 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, typified by this textile, 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 produced six printed linens which were used by the most daring clients as dress fabrics. The printers are said to have used a secret process to 'preserve the freedom and spontaneity of the original drawing'. 'Amenophis' was available in several colourways. There is a photograph of Roger Fry sitting in an armchair upholstered in this fabric. |
| Associated object | MISC.2:40-1934 (Design) |
| Bibliographic reference | Beyond Bloomsbury. Designs of the Omega Workshops 1913-19, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 2009, p. 124, cat. 37B. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.424-1966 |
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| Record created | February 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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