Designer Desire: Gillian Farr

Montage of Gillian Farr fabric designs | H is for Home

When we featured Juliet Glynn-Smith in last week’s Designer Desire post, we discovered the work of Gillian Farr who was one of her contemporaries at Terence Conran Fabrics Ltd.

Two of Farr’s best known patterns for Conran are Master Tuggie’s and Gilliflower; both from 1964, the latter winning a Cotton Board Awards prize that year.

Prior to working at Terence Conran Fabrics, Farr was part of Liberty of London’s studio in the 1950s where she designed their now re-issued Mitsi print (the 5 colourways can be seen at the bottom of the montage). She later created Mirabelle – also re-issued – for the company in 1962 (the 3 colourways are at the top of the montage).

According to Anna Buruma, Liberty Archivist and author of Liberty and Co. in the Fifties and Sixties: A Taste for Design, she designed the pattern, circa 1964, of the pictured Jean Muir Liberty-print silk dress that once belonged to Joanna Lumley.

Gillian Farr’s work is included in a new exhibition (which runs until Sunday 2 June 2019) at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. Her work also features in the accompanying book by Geoffrey Rayner and Richard Chamberlain (to be published 25th Feb 2019).

Additional image credits:
Kerry Taylor Auctions

George Him matchbook

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detailed view of a vintage George Him match-book front cover | H is for Home

We’ve tracked down another one of these fabulous & rare, vintage match-books produced for Liberty in the 1960s.

detailed view of a vintage George Him match-book edge showing words '150 CRON MATCHES MADE IN FINLAND | Designed for Liberty of London by vintage George Him

The last example we featured was designed by Miroslav Sasek – this one’s the work of another favourite illustrator, George Him.

vintage George Him match-book front cover

A row of guardsmen provides the inspiration – each with their own unique facial expression & medal collection.

inside view of vintage George Him match-book

The match-book is unused and in very good condition. They really are rare survivors and don’t appear often.

vintage George Him match-book rear cover

We actually had this one sent all the way from America.

collection of vintage London items including vintage Him match-book and London series ceramic tiles designed by Kenneth Townsend

We’ve added it to our collection of quirky London inspired design pieces – they really put a smile on our faces.

Christmas Countdown: Liberty of London

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selection of Christmas items from Liberty of London

These crackers from Liberty of London are some of the most exquisite things I’ve ever seen – almost too lovely to pull! And I’d happily share a home with that plump robin with his Liberty print breast. Liberty’s Christmas range isn’t the largest, but it makes up for that in the sheer quality of what it does have.

  1. Extra large Liberty print robin – £59.95
  2. Silver Astley Clarke Winter Skies charm – £135
  3. Blue knitted Christmas stocking – £16.95
  4. Christmas pudding felt bauble – £6.95
  5. Medium festive print angel tree topper – £19.95
  6. Heritage superior luxury crackers – £39.95

Miroslav Sasek alert!

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detailed view of vintage Miroslav Sasek matchbook designed & manufactured for Liberty of London

A few months ago, we blogged about this lovely vintage matchbook designed by Miroslav Sasek for Liberty of London. They’re rare survivors especially when in good condition.

Last week, we were contacted by Penny from the Rain Rescue charity shop in Sheffield. They had a similar one donated to their shop recently and were keen to get the best possible price for it. We said that we’d flag it up to our readers if they put it on eBay, so here’s a link to the listing. They do wonderful work caring for & re-homing animals in need.

The winning bidder will be receiving a lovely item and helping a great cause to boot. If you’re interested you’d best be quick – the listing ends tomorrow!