Sutherland thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Sutherland

Furnishing Fabric
ca. 1871 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This Jacquard woven silk furnishing fabric was designed by Owen Jones for Warner, Sillett & Ramm in about 1871. Jones trained as an architect and travelled to the Middle East where he made a study of decorative art. In 1856 he published the Grammar of Ornament, analysing patterns and colours from many periods and cultures. The book became an invaluable source for many designers.

Jones believed that reproducing flowers and similar objects in a naturalistic way was in bad taste. He preferred to create stylised motifs, as in this example, entitled 'Sutherland', and he designed a range of high quality silks using this type of pattern for leading manufacturers like Warner, Sillett & Ramm.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSutherland (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Jacquard woven silk
Brief description
Furnishing fabric 'Sutherland' of Jacquard woven silk, designed by Owen Jones for Warner, Sillett & Ramm, Spitalfields, England, ca. 1871
Physical description
Furnishing fabric of Jacquard woven silk. With 'Art-botany' design consisting of repeating and interlocking rows of a stylised flower on a stem on a pale blue satin ground.
Dimensions
  • Length: 61.5cm
  • Width: 54.5cm
  • Length: 37.125in
  • Width: 21.5in
Marks and inscriptions
'1308' (On the W&S label, with the name of the design)
Credit line
Given by Warner & Sons Ltd.
Object history
In the mid-nineteenth century designers like the botanist Christopher Dresser (1834-1904) tried to derive from nature a new, simpler, style of ornament. The regular, rather stiff patterns of 'Art-botany' are based on their examination of plant structures.
Subject depicted
Summary
This Jacquard woven silk furnishing fabric was designed by Owen Jones for Warner, Sillett & Ramm in about 1871. Jones trained as an architect and travelled to the Middle East where he made a study of decorative art. In 1856 he published the Grammar of Ornament, analysing patterns and colours from many periods and cultures. The book became an invaluable source for many designers.

Jones believed that reproducing flowers and similar objects in a naturalistic way was in bad taste. He preferred to create stylised motifs, as in this example, entitled 'Sutherland', and he designed a range of high quality silks using this type of pattern for leading manufacturers like Warner, Sillett & Ramm.
Bibliographic reference
Parry, Linda. British Textiles from 1850 to 1900 London : Victoria and Albert Museum 1993. Plate 66.
Collection
Accession number
T.162-1972

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Record createdJanuary 6, 2004
Record URL
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