Roller Blind thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Roller Blind

ca. 1847 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This printed window blind, designed by A.W.N Pugin (1812-1852), was made for the original furnishing of the new Palace of Westminster, London, completed between 1840 and 1847. It is likely that this blind was part of a scheme for secondary service rooms, such as lavatories or staff preparation rooms, in the House of Lords. It was discovered in a gentleman's lavatory in the basement of the building during redecoration in 1980.

There are three pencil and wash designs of this pattern by Pugin in the Museum collection, one of which is inscribed 'Patterns for Blinds'. The linen blind was block-printed by Thomas Clarkson of Bannister Hall, Lancashire, for the firm of Frederick Crace & Son, which was responsible for much of the work at Westminster. The firm of Thomas Clarkson was one of the most popular 19th-century manufacturers of high quality furnishings. At the time this blind was made the Crace shop was at 14 Wigmore Street, Cavendish Square, London.

Although the pattern was originally drawn by Pugin for the Palace of Westminster project, Crace soon realised its commercial potential and registered the pattern with the Patent Office on 7 March 1849. The Museum owns a second, larger-scale version in blue on white linen, which may be a later version.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Block-printed linen, with hemp cord and wooden handle
Brief description
Roller blind of block printed linen, made by A.W.N. Pugin, printed and made at Bannister Hall, Lancashire, ca. 1847
Physical description
Blind still on its lower flat wooden pole with cord pull still attached (wooden handle). The blind is of block-printed linen fabric with a heavy finish (not glazed). The design of the fabric is in green on natural with a repeating design of horizontal linking ogee motif or arcading containing a crowned rose motif surrounded by stylised curving leaves.
Dimensions
  • Height: 223cm
  • Width: 160cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 23/07/1999 by Tex. cons
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
This blind is one of the few surviving textiles from the original decorative scheme at Westminster. It may have been used in service areas in the House of Lords. The design for this blind is shown to the right.
Credit line
Given by The House of Lords
Object history
Designed by A.W.N. Pugin (born in London, 1812, died in Ramsgate, Kent, 1852); printed by Thomas Clarkson of Bannister Hall, Lancashire for John G.Crace & Son
Summary
This printed window blind, designed by A.W.N Pugin (1812-1852), was made for the original furnishing of the new Palace of Westminster, London, completed between 1840 and 1847. It is likely that this blind was part of a scheme for secondary service rooms, such as lavatories or staff preparation rooms, in the House of Lords. It was discovered in a gentleman's lavatory in the basement of the building during redecoration in 1980.

There are three pencil and wash designs of this pattern by Pugin in the Museum collection, one of which is inscribed 'Patterns for Blinds'. The linen blind was block-printed by Thomas Clarkson of Bannister Hall, Lancashire, for the firm of Frederick Crace & Son, which was responsible for much of the work at Westminster. The firm of Thomas Clarkson was one of the most popular 19th-century manufacturers of high quality furnishings. At the time this blind was made the Crace shop was at 14 Wigmore Street, Cavendish Square, London.

Although the pattern was originally drawn by Pugin for the Palace of Westminster project, Crace soon realised its commercial potential and registered the pattern with the Patent Office on 7 March 1849. The Museum owns a second, larger-scale version in blue on white linen, which may be a later version.
Collection
Accession number
T.15-1980

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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