Rare, unusual and interesting antique costumes and textiles; for museums and collectors looking for that extra special piece, for new and established collectors and for those with a modest budget who want to adorn their person or home.

SOLD

Crysede
1926-33

Alec George Walker (1889-1964). Alec given small run down mill in Yorkshire by his mill owner father where he produced Vigil silk. Married Kay and moved to Newlyn, Cornwall in 1918. Brought machinery from Yorkshire and founded Crysede. Vigil silk from Yorkshire printed and made up in Newlyn. Kay designed garments. 1923 went to Paris, met Dufy and Zadkine, who encouraged him to create his own designs. Retail shop in Newlyn. Mail orders to Paris, America & Australia. Further shops opened. One-man exhibition of textiles, Independent Gallery, London. Included in British Institute of Induestrial Art Exhibition, V & A Museum. Fabrics gained a national reputation. Invited Tom Heron to join company as manager. Larger premises leased at St Ives where company was moved. Under Heron's direction company expanded. Walker continued to produce designs from his Newlyn studio. In 1929 after dissolved marriage, dispute with Heron and the Board. Heron starting Cresta Silks in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Walker returned to Cysede year later at Chairman's request. Produced new designs exhibited at Olympia, London. In 1933 broke with firm. Re married and went to live on Yorkshire farm breeding cattle and horses. Crysede went into liquidation in 1939-41. He moved back to Cornwall to Falmouth until his death. Dyes were synthetic and colourfast, mainly from British suppliers but some also from Switzerland and Germany.


Cataloguing

designed by Alec Walker, printed with a tree design in red, slate blue, and pale green on a black silk crepe ground, 18 1/2 in; 47 cm sq;


Condition

Excellent


Comments

See: Berriman, Hazel Crysede the unique textile designs of Alec Walker. The trees are similar to watercolour Plate Twenty-Two dated 1927.