Printed silk bed cover, designed by John Illingworth Kay for G.P. & J. Baker, Great Britain, 1899

Printed silk bed cover. Block-printed on an 'art-silk' ground. Wide border (11 inches; 28 cms) with corner sections. The silk ground is seamed down the centre and has selvedges on either side. The design shows a meandering pattern of tiger lilies alternating with rambling briar rose-like flowers in shades of yellow and green on a white ground. The border and corner designs show similar flowers within dark green stripes.

Given by Mrs I.C.Y. Sewell

Registered File number 1987/130.
Called 'Lily and Border', the pattern was drawn by J.I. Kay for G.P. & J. Baker who printed it at their Swaisland Print Works, Crayford in 1899 (Baker design B552, border B634). Details of both designs can be found in Baker's first block-book which is still in the possession of the firm.

Similar fine silk bed covers and hangings (see T.157-1985 and T.5-1986) were printed for Liberty's and Heal's shops although the Baker block-book gives the Baker code as being the originator of the design.

The donor states that her father-in-law bought the bedcover from Liberty's at the beginning of the 20th century so it is likely that Baker's sold the product to the shop after printing rather than acted as commission printers.

John Illingworth Kay was a member of the Silver Studio but as he is listed in Baker's records by name, it is likely that he sold this pattern privately.

There is a sample of this textile at Krefeld Textile Museum (06619).

T.5-1987