The British Empire
Furnishing Fabric
1887 (made)
1887 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This roller printed cotton was designed in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, by Walter Crane for Messrs. Edmund Potter & Co. Female figures in Classical dress represent the different countries of the British Empire at the time, each one carrying an attribute of her nation. A globe with the helmet of Britannia resting on it is shown in the upper section of the fabric. It was described by Walter Crane as 'a kind of apotheosis of the British Empire expressed in a figurative way' (Art Journal, 1898).
Walter Crane was a founder member and first president of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. He was one of the best known and most versatile artists and designers of his generation and designed tapestries, carpets and woven and printed fabric amongst many other types of object. He also worked as a painter and book illustrator. The main impetus for using motifs of figures like the ones in this fabric came from the rise in popularity of book illustration, particularly those done for children's books.
Walter Crane was a founder member and first president of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. He was one of the best known and most versatile artists and designers of his generation and designed tapestries, carpets and woven and printed fabric amongst many other types of object. He also worked as a painter and book illustrator. The main impetus for using motifs of figures like the ones in this fabric came from the rise in popularity of book illustration, particularly those done for children's books.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The British Empire (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Roller-printed cotton |
| Brief description | Furnishing fabric 'The British Empire' of roller-printed cotton, designed by Walter Crane, made by Edmund Potter & Co., England, 1887. |
| Physical description | Furnishing fabric of roller-printed cotton. With a design of female figures in Classical dress, each representing different countries of the British Empire. Each woman is carrying an attribute of her nation. On the upper section of the fabric are globes with the helmet of Britannia on them. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by J. W. F. Morton, Esq. |
| Summary | This roller printed cotton was designed in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, by Walter Crane for Messrs. Edmund Potter & Co. Female figures in Classical dress represent the different countries of the British Empire at the time, each one carrying an attribute of her nation. A globe with the helmet of Britannia resting on it is shown in the upper section of the fabric. It was described by Walter Crane as 'a kind of apotheosis of the British Empire expressed in a figurative way' (Art Journal, 1898). Walter Crane was a founder member and first president of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. He was one of the best known and most versatile artists and designers of his generation and designed tapestries, carpets and woven and printed fabric amongst many other types of object. He also worked as a painter and book illustrator. The main impetus for using motifs of figures like the ones in this fabric came from the rise in popularity of book illustration, particularly those done for children's books. |
| Bibliographic reference | Parry, Linda. British Textiles from 1850 to 1900 London : Victoria and Albert Museum 1993. Plate 114. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.837-1967 |
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| Record created | January 16, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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