Sandersons commissioned five textiles from the painter and designer John Piper as part of their 1960 centenary celebrations. From the late 1950's to the early 60's there was a definite interest in painterly textiles that demonstrated the unique potential of screen printing, with its ability to capture the quality of brush-stroked colour. ** The monumental grandeur of many artists' textiles in the early 1960's was necessary if they were to work in the large scale architectural interiors of the era which witnesed a rapid growth in new public buildings, all which required furnishing with suitably prestigious fabrics *
John Piper (1903-1972) was a major figure in modern British art. He designed the Baptistry window at Coventry Cathedral and was a stage designer for Benjamin Britten's operas. He wrote about architecture and illustrated the Shell Guides, the regional countryside guides.
Stones of Bath was exhibited at the John Piper retrospective exhibition, The Tate Gallery, London 1983.
Glorious colours and design. Piper at his best.These would make great wall hangings. They could have velcro strip at the top attached to a wooden length. Or they could be mounted on a stretcher. We can do this for you. Do ask for photos of the various lengths.
Stones of Bath screen-printed on cotton, the abstract design featuring buildings in Bath in vibrant shades of green, ochre, terracotta, ivory, brown.
B - 4ft 5 in x 3ft 10 in ; 1.35 x 1.17 m. 2 full repeats and half a one at the top.
D - 6ft 8" x 45 "; 2.04 x 1.14 m. 3 full repeats plus extra top and bottom.
E - 4ft 4 in x 21 in; 1.32 x 50 cm.
H - 4ft 4 in x 18 1/2 in; 1.32 x 50 cm.
These were curtains which I have unpicked and had professionally cleaned by a company who does cleaning for museums. We have loosely tacked edges under to show you how these lengths look wonderful as hangings. Please talk to me about this.
B - There is no left hand selvedge and the right hand one just has the colours on, no writing.
D - The actual selvedge on the right hand side is missing, so we have turned under the raw edge by 1 in; 2.5 cm and hand sewn it, so if you wanted to have it mounted on a stretcher you could. The left hand side has the selvedge and Stones of Bath and Sandersons is repeated three times.
E - We have turned under all sides. Ready to mount onto a stretcher or hang.
H - One side has the selvedge with the writing. The other side has been turned in and tacked with large stitches. Ready to mount onto a stretcher or hang.
Piper's Palaces. John Piper in England & Wales by Richard Ingrams & John Piper
*Artists Textiles in Britain 1945-1970 by Geoffrey Rayner, Richard Chamberlain & Anne-Marie Stapleton.
**English and American Textiles from 1790 to the present by Celia Ruffey & Mary Schoeser, p 220.
All images and text © meg-andrews.com 2021
