On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Furnishing Fabric

1840-1860 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a printed cotton produced in Lancashire in the mid-19th century for export abroad. The cotton would have been intended for use as furnishing but would also have provided novelty use for a number of other purposes. The donor's grandfather worked in the Accrington Print Works and it is likely that the cotton was made in this factory.

This is one of the so-called 'Portuguese prints' produced in large quantities by leading Lancashire printers between about 1840 and 1860. Although manufactured primarily for the Portuguese, Spanish and South American markets, enough examples have been found in the United States and in this country to prove that they were also used elsewhere.

The distinguishing characteristics of cheap export cottons of this type are fantastical flowers and animals, often incongruously combined with figures printed in bright colours on a striped ground. The use of Chinese figures as part of the overall pattern in this inexpensive export cotton shows that, despite Chinoiserie having limited appeal for high fashion in the mid-19th century, such details were still popular with the wider public.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Roller-printed cotton
Brief description
Furnishing fabric of roller-printed cotton, possibly made by Accrington Print Works, Lancashire, 1840-1860
Physical description
Furnishing fabric of roller-printed cotton. With a chinoiserie design on a brown stripe, and flowers and birds on a white stripe.
Dimensions
  • Height: 300cm
  • Width: 72cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 28/02/2000 by Tex Cons
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
By 1840 Chinese styles had lost their appeal in the most fashionable circles but were still widely popular elsewhere. The leading Lancashire printers produced and exported large quantities of inexpensive cottons such as this one. Chinese figures and pavilions are shown in awkward combinations with flowers and exotic birds printed in bright colours on a striped ground.
Credit line
Given by Mrs J. Ferguson
Object history
Made in Accrington, Lancashire
Summary
This is a printed cotton produced in Lancashire in the mid-19th century for export abroad. The cotton would have been intended for use as furnishing but would also have provided novelty use for a number of other purposes. The donor's grandfather worked in the Accrington Print Works and it is likely that the cotton was made in this factory.

This is one of the so-called 'Portuguese prints' produced in large quantities by leading Lancashire printers between about 1840 and 1860. Although manufactured primarily for the Portuguese, Spanish and South American markets, enough examples have been found in the United States and in this country to prove that they were also used elsewhere.

The distinguishing characteristics of cheap export cottons of this type are fantastical flowers and animals, often incongruously combined with figures printed in bright colours on a striped ground. The use of Chinese figures as part of the overall pattern in this inexpensive export cotton shows that, despite Chinoiserie having limited appeal for high fashion in the mid-19th century, such details were still popular with the wider public.
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.175-1956

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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