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Cover of "The Art of Modern Tapestry: Dovecot Studios since 1912" by Dr Elizabeth Cumming

The Art of Modern Tapestry: Dovecot Studios since 1912 by Dr Elizabeth Cumming covers the history of Dovecot Studios from its Arts & Crafts beginnings to today, 2012, its centenary year.

Front pages of "The Art of Modern Tapestry: Dovecot Studios since 1912" by Dr Elizabeth Cumming

The book accompanies a major exhibition, Weaving The Century: Tapestry from Dovecot Studios 1912-2012, currently being held at Dovecot Studios (until 7 October 2012).

photograph looking down on Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh

Since 2009, the Studios have been housed in a most magnificent residence; Victorian swimming baths, the first to be built in Edinburgh.

Bernat Klein tapestry

Many of the tapestries produced by the weavers at Dovecot have been collaborations with painters & sculptors – a veritable Who’s Who of the modern art world – David Hockney, Stanley Spencer, Henry Moore, Eduardo Paolozzi, John Piper, Cecil Beaton, Patrick Caulfield…

Douglas Grierson tapestry

Many of these tapestries have been examples of fine art in themselves – including this breathtaking piece, Sunset over Corrib, designed by Douglas Grierson. It look like an impressionist painting… or cubist masterpiece!

Pair of tapestries which adorn the walls of St Catherine's College, Oxford University's dining hall Trio of tapestries on the walls of St Catherine's College, Oxford University's dining hall

A glance at the Studio’s commissioners & collectors give us much insight into the regard held for the excellence of their work. They produced coats of arms for HM Queen Elizabeth and Liberty; are in the permanent collections of museums & galleries including the V&A, Edinburgh Museums and Galleries, National Museum of Scotland, Vancouver Art Gallery, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; have been commissioned by global organisations such as Rolls Royce, BP, IBM, London Stock Exchange; and have work that hangs on the walls of cathedrals: (Coventry, Canterbury, Glasgow), universities: (Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, Sussex, Leicester) and banks: (Deutsche Bank, Santander, Chase Manhattan).

Margaret Stewart tapestry

In an effort to diversify and become more commercial, printed tiles and textiles were introduced at Dovecot. Margaret Stewart’s bird cushion cover from the 1950s looks so contemporary!

Graham Sutherland tapestry

The animal kingdom has been a recurring theme in Dovecot tapestries. Graham Sutherland’s Wading Birds (above) and Edward Bawden’s Farming (below) are two of our favourites.

Edward Bawden tapestry

The book provides an in depth history of the Studios, The author has mined Dovecot’s archive and has uncovered &shared many gems. There are insightful interviews with weavers past & present, collaborating artists, commissioners and academics.

Available from the publishers, Lund Humphries and also on Amazon UK & US and Hive.

[Many thanks to Lund Humphries for the review copy]

Our last blog featured the characteristic designs of mid 20th century German pottery and how it captured an era. Another favourite of ours, with an equally distinctive look, is Welsh wool with its astounding range of colours, patterns and textures.

_{claret & cream}

_{vibrant orange & olive green}

_{shades of coffee}

A number of mills have produced these high quality textiles over the years and in some cases still do. A couple of good examples producing traditional Welsh wool tapestry are Trefriw Woollen Mills and Solva Woollen Mill.

The distinctive designs are not ‘tapestry’ in the truest sense of the word but are, in fact, double woven cloth producing a pattern on both sides.

Mills manufactured textiles for sale by the length and also produced their own range of homewares including blankets, throws, cushions, place mats etc.

_{Tapestry drink coasters}

In addition, these textiles were purchased wholesale by fashion manufacturers including Gwydir Garments, Dwyryd Clothes, Coracle Clothes, Gannex and many more.

The cloth was then made up into coats, jackets, capes, waistcoats, skirts, belts, hats, handbags and purses.

_{vintage handbag}

_{skirt & waistcoat suit}

The 1960s were undoubtedly the heyday for Welsh wool. Nothing screams the 60s quite like a Welsh wool tapestry cape, mini skirt and knee-high boots. In fact, Mary Quant was known to make trips to Wales to source fabric for her fashion house.

However, recent designs by Melin Tregwynt have really moved things on once more and are much loved by contemporary interiors magazines. Whether it’s this modern look or the vintage pieces, these textiles look fantastic in the home.

The green and orange colourways look amazing with dark woods such as teak and rosewood, the bright pinks zing against white acrylic and browns & creams lift rustic pine with a bit of subtle colour and texture.

There are obviously no rules though, and the range of colours and patterns allows for great fun and flexibility.

Quality vintage pieces remain affordable and, having been out of favour for a few years, are being appreciated once more.

A creeping rejection of the cheap and mass-produced, the recognition of hand-crafted objects and the use of natural products stands Welsh wool in good stead for the future.

_{vintage handbag}

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Tag: tapestry

Bookmarks: The Art of Modern Tapestry: Dovecot Studios since 1912

Welsh Wool