Edinburgh Weavers’ Textiles Book

Textiles, which are often ignored in favour of furniture, ceramics or glass, have been enjoying a real renaissance recently. I think this is partly down to the current vogue for vintage clothing, particularly from the 1950s & 60s, and partly as people are beginning to wake up from the cold, clean Minimalist look that’s been so popular for a few decades.
They’ve always fascinated me, from wonderful 18th century toiles de jouy, to abstract designs of the 1950s. My esteemed and eminent colleague, the design historian and curator Lesley Jackson, has just finished a book on one of the most innovative companies of the mid-20thC – Edinburgh Weavers. If  you haven’t heard of them, you really ought to read this book and find out more – it’s very early days for an area that I feel is going to be huge!
Edinburgh Weavers was one of the most important textile companies of the twentieth century. Alastair Morton, visionary art director of the company, commissioned a remarkable series of textiles from leading British artists, including Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and Elisabeth Frink, as well artist-designers, such as Marion Dorn, Ashley Havinden and Lucienne Day. Morton was also a gifted artist, textile designer and weaver in his own right. This long overdue study traces his wide-ranging career and records the history of Edinburgh Weavers and the glorious textiles it produced. Drawing on the Victoria & Albert Museum’s extensive archive this impressive book features over 300 images of artists’ textiles unparalleled in quality and scope and is an invaluable resource.
The 352 page hardback book is lavishly illustrated with over 400 colour photographs and 50 in black and white, and has been published by the Victoria & Albert Museum. At the time of writing, the V&A has a special introductory offer of £39. Click here to find out more.