Grand Acanthus
Furnishing Fabric
1993 (made)
1993 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Paul Simmons graduated in Printed Textiles from Glasgow School of Art in 1988. 'Timorous Beasties', a collaborative venue with fellow graduate Alistair McAuley, produced hand-printed and painted furnishings and hangings to commission. These commisions regularly featured enormous and rather threatening insects and exotic flora in lurid shades.
The designers have had to adapt to the rigours of exact repeats for mechanised production and toned down their colours and images to suit a mass market. Their talent was spotted at a very early stage by Eddie Squires, Design Director at Warners and the success of the collection was due in equal part to his skill and commerical sense. The mass produced range forms a fascinating counterpoint to the individual works of the designers.
The designers have had to adapt to the rigours of exact repeats for mechanised production and toned down their colours and images to suit a mass market. Their talent was spotted at a very early stage by Eddie Squires, Design Director at Warners and the success of the collection was due in equal part to his skill and commerical sense. The mass produced range forms a fascinating counterpoint to the individual works of the designers.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Grand Acanthus (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Printed cotton |
| Brief description | Furnishing fabric, printed cotton, 'Grand Acanthus' pattern, designed by Paul Simmons for Warner Fabrics, Great Britain, 1993 |
| Physical description | Furnishing fabric of printed cotton. Repeat pattern of gold (acorn) acanthus leaves on cream (stone) ground. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Given by Warner Fabrics plc |
| Object history | Registered File number 1993/60. |
| Historical context | Warner & Sons was founded in 1870 as a silk-weaving company in Spitalfields, London by Benjamin Warner and became one of the best-known producers of high quality domestic woven and printed furnishings. Grant Acanthus formed part of a new range launched by Warner Fabrics plc at Chelsea Design Week 1993. Paul Simmons graduated in Printed Textiles from Glasgow School of Art in 1988. 'Timorous Beasties', a collaborative venue with fellow graduate Alistair McAuley, produced hand-printed and painted furnishings and hangings to commission. These commisions regularly featured enormous and rather threatening insects and exotic flora in lurid shades. The designers have had to adapt to the rigours of exact repeats for mechanised production and toned down their colours and images to suit a mass market. Their talent was spotted at a very early stage by Eddie Squires, Design Director at Warners and the success of the collection was due in equal part to his skill and commerical sense. The mass produced range forms a fascinating counterpoint to the individual works of the designers. |
| Production | Attribution note: Launched by Warner Fabrics Plc at Chelsea Design Week 1993. Reason For Production: Retail |
| Subject depicted | |
| Associations | |
| Summary | Paul Simmons graduated in Printed Textiles from Glasgow School of Art in 1988. 'Timorous Beasties', a collaborative venue with fellow graduate Alistair McAuley, produced hand-printed and painted furnishings and hangings to commission. These commisions regularly featured enormous and rather threatening insects and exotic flora in lurid shades. The designers have had to adapt to the rigours of exact repeats for mechanised production and toned down their colours and images to suit a mass market. Their talent was spotted at a very early stage by Eddie Squires, Design Director at Warners and the success of the collection was due in equal part to his skill and commerical sense. The mass produced range forms a fascinating counterpoint to the individual works of the designers. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.166-1993 |
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| Record created | August 28, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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