(from top, left to right: Painted Dessert in 2 colourways, Tomee, Van Gogh in 2 colourways, Rubra in 2 colourways, Golden Harvesamazot in 2 colourways, Tropique, Pomegranate, Gilia, Bousada, Tepeaca, Unknown, Hibiscus, Trinidad, Magi, Caribe, Oriana)
Shame on me! I have only recently been introduced to the work of Althea McNish by Liz Evans of Retro Pattern. I really should know of McNish, she originally came from Trinidad.
Althea McNish (1933-2020) began designing fashion and furnishing textiles in the 1950s. She designed 8 patterns for Hull Traders, a manufacturer who were based not far from us, just over the border in Colne, Lancashire – Golden Harvest, Painted Desert, Van Gogh (all 1959), Oriana, Pomegranate (both 1960), Gilia, Rubra (both 1961) and Magi (1964). At this firm, she worked alongside the likes of Shirley Craven, John Drummond, Ivon Hitchens and Eduardo Paolozzi.
She was also commissioned to produce designs for the likes of:
- Liberty & Co – Bousada, Cebollas, Hibiscus (all 1958), Grenada, Tepeaca (1960)
- Heal’s – Caribe
- Ascher Ltd – Tropique (1957)
- Cavendish Textiles – Lumière (1961)
- Dior
- Balenciaga
In 1959, she designed two murals entitled Pineapples and Pomegranates and Rayflower for the tourist class restaurant aboard the P&O Orient cruise liner, Oriana. She also produced a mural in the 1980s for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Nordic Empress and MS Monarch.
A number of museums hold her designs in their permanent collections including the V&A, National Museums Scotland, Cooper Hewitt and Philadelphia Museum of Art.
There’s a lovely documentary entitled, Whoever Heard of a Black Artist? Britain’s Hidden Art History currently on the BBC iPlayer (there’s just over a week left to view it!) in which she’s been interviewed. I can’t recommend it highly enough! McNish is one of 21 designers profiled in Libby Sellers’ new book, Women Design.
Examples of her designs come up for sale from time to time. Your first port of call should be Retro Pattern; contact them via their Instragram account. In addition, have a search on Etsy.
I have always seen myself as a citizen of the world, drawing inspiration from the flora and fauna of every country and the art and artefacts of all cultures.
Additional image credits:
Architectural Digest | Maharam | Maison Disorder | | Pinterest | Repeating Islands | Revealing Histories