The Wykehamist
Carpet Sample
1896 (made)
1896 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Charles Voysey was one of the most original and influential architects and designers of all forms of decorative art working at the end of the 19th century. In 1882 he set up his own architecture practice and from the late 1880s started to design repeating patterns for wallpaper, woven and printed textiles and carpets.
Voysey's most interesting designs date from this time and show the influence of William Morris's principles of pattern design and use of plant forms and animals as standard motifs. Voysey's textiles are dominated by flowing patterns incorporating birds, deer, hearts, flowers and trees in silhouette. He sold his work to manufacturers such as G. P. & J. Baker, Thomas Wardle and Alexander Morton, and many of his designs were sold through Liberty in London. Voysey's work was well known in continental Europe, and though popular with French Art Nouveau designers, his influence was felt more dramatically by the founders of the Modern movement.
Voysey's most interesting designs date from this time and show the influence of William Morris's principles of pattern design and use of plant forms and animals as standard motifs. Voysey's textiles are dominated by flowing patterns incorporating birds, deer, hearts, flowers and trees in silhouette. He sold his work to manufacturers such as G. P. & J. Baker, Thomas Wardle and Alexander Morton, and many of his designs were sold through Liberty in London. Voysey's work was well known in continental Europe, and though popular with French Art Nouveau designers, his influence was felt more dramatically by the founders of the Modern movement.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Wykehamist (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Machine-woven wool |
| Brief description | Strip of machine-woven wool carpet sample 'The Wykehamist', designed by CFA Voysey, made by Tomkinson and Adam, Kidderminster, 1896 |
| Physical description | Strip of machine-woven wool carpet sample, Axminster-type and showing two full repeats of design. The pattern shows thistles and tulip heads repeating alternatively with scrolling leaves with a small subsidiary pattern of passion flowers and leaves. The design is worked in shades of pink, red, pale green, yellow ochre and fawn on a dark blue ground. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | Registered File number 1986/1305. See also T.113-1986 for a border corner of the same design and probably taken from the same carpet. This design was used as a wallpaper by Essex & Co (see 'The Hoose' 1897 Der Moderne Stil) as a woven wool and silk by Alexander Morton & Co (see T.73-1953 also a sample in Musée de l'impression de l'etoffe in Mulhouse) and as an Axminster carpet by Tomkinson & Adams (see T.73-1953 for another example). |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Charles Voysey was one of the most original and influential architects and designers of all forms of decorative art working at the end of the 19th century. In 1882 he set up his own architecture practice and from the late 1880s started to design repeating patterns for wallpaper, woven and printed textiles and carpets. Voysey's most interesting designs date from this time and show the influence of William Morris's principles of pattern design and use of plant forms and animals as standard motifs. Voysey's textiles are dominated by flowing patterns incorporating birds, deer, hearts, flowers and trees in silhouette. He sold his work to manufacturers such as G. P. & J. Baker, Thomas Wardle and Alexander Morton, and many of his designs were sold through Liberty in London. Voysey's work was well known in continental Europe, and though popular with French Art Nouveau designers, his influence was felt more dramatically by the founders of the Modern movement. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.112-1986 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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