Pan Pipes
Furnishing Fabric
late 1890s (made)
late 1890s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This woven silk, cotton and wool double cloth was designed by Harry Napper for Alexander Morton & Co. in the late 1890s. The fabric is called 'Pan Pipes' and the stylised trees and figures follow the forms of Art Nouveau. The main impetus for using motifs like these came from the rise in popularity of illustrations for children's books as well as Continental poster design.
Napper worked for the textile design firm the Silver Studio from 1893, but left in 1898 to work on a free-lance basis. Absorbing the most fashionable elements of British and Continental design at the end of the 19th century, Napper produced a range of very successful stylised floral designs. He sold to many manufacturers, including G. P. & J. Baker and his textiles were particularly popular in France.
Alexander Morton founded his textile company in Scotland in 1867 and in 1900 moved to a factory in Carlisle. Morton's son James was responsible for buying patterns from most of the leading freelance designers of the day, including Voysey, Butterfield and the Silver Studio.
Napper worked for the textile design firm the Silver Studio from 1893, but left in 1898 to work on a free-lance basis. Absorbing the most fashionable elements of British and Continental design at the end of the 19th century, Napper produced a range of very successful stylised floral designs. He sold to many manufacturers, including G. P. & J. Baker and his textiles were particularly popular in France.
Alexander Morton founded his textile company in Scotland in 1867 and in 1900 moved to a factory in Carlisle. Morton's son James was responsible for buying patterns from most of the leading freelance designers of the day, including Voysey, Butterfield and the Silver Studio.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Pan Pipes (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Woven silk, cotton and wool double cloth |
| Brief description | Furnishing fabric woven silk, cotton and wool double cloth, designed by Harry Napper for Alexander Morton & Co., Great Britain, late 1890s. |
| Physical description | Furnishing length of woven silk, cotton and wool double cloth. Repeating pattern of horizontal rows of stylised trees with lanceolate leaves, framing crounched, identical figures of pan playing their pipes. In three shades of green on a pale blue ground. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Label 'Des. Helena. Patt No 33116. Colour No. 301. Width 6/4. A.M.&CO'.
|
| Credit line | Given by J W F Morton and Courtaulds Ltd. |
| Summary | This woven silk, cotton and wool double cloth was designed by Harry Napper for Alexander Morton & Co. in the late 1890s. The fabric is called 'Pan Pipes' and the stylised trees and figures follow the forms of Art Nouveau. The main impetus for using motifs like these came from the rise in popularity of illustrations for children's books as well as Continental poster design. Napper worked for the textile design firm the Silver Studio from 1893, but left in 1898 to work on a free-lance basis. Absorbing the most fashionable elements of British and Continental design at the end of the 19th century, Napper produced a range of very successful stylised floral designs. He sold to many manufacturers, including G. P. & J. Baker and his textiles were particularly popular in France. Alexander Morton founded his textile company in Scotland in 1867 and in 1900 moved to a factory in Carlisle. Morton's son James was responsible for buying patterns from most of the leading freelance designers of the day, including Voysey, Butterfield and the Silver Studio. |
| Bibliographic reference | Parry, Linda. British Textiles from 1850 to 1900 London : Victoria and Albert Museum 1993. Plate 153. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.169-1977 |
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| Record created | January 21, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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