For twenty-five years after the first Arts and Crafts Exhibition in 1888, these English textiles were shown throughout Europe and the United States, influencing designers and attracting a large public. The refined creations of Arthur Silver (including Liberty's celebrated Peacock Feather), the distinctive designs of C. F. A. Voysey, the floral patterns of Lindsay Butterfield and George Haite—all were, and continue to be, a source of delight and inspiration.

Linda Parry first examines the evolution and development of the style and discusses the whole range of Arts and Crafts textiles—printed and woven fabrics, tapestries and carpets, lace and embroidery. She then presents an alphabetical annotated catalogue that provides invaluable information on designers, manufacturers, and shops.

The illustrations have been selected from the outstanding collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and are supplemented by notable examples from other museums. For this new edition, many of the illustrations that were previously printed in black and white are now reproduced in full color. Also included are rare period photographs of designers and of the fabrics in use in Victorian interiors. 153 illustrations, 91 in color.

If your interest is in the textiles of the Arts and Crafts movement in Great Britain, this is the book for you. It is comprehensive in its exploration of the subject, from well-known designers as Charles Rennie Mackintosh and William Morris to dozens of lesser-known designers and craftspeople. Linda Parry, the author, is on the staff of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The majority of examples of textiles in black and white and color were taken from this museum. Parry covers the history of the movement and the work shown in London by the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. At the end of the book is an extensive catalog of designers, craftsmen, institutions and firms. There is also a long bibliography of books and catalogs if you want to explore this subject in depth.


Scholarly text, but rewarding just for Oh How Pretty! appreciation   March 4, 2008
Even when I buy a coffee-table book, in which the primary attraction is visual rather than wordsmithing, I try to read the text. That's why it's taken me so long to review this book, which I've owned for about 6 months. The text is not bad; it's just dry and scholarly. That isn't actually a terrible thing here, since this book is, after all, about the textiles of the Arts & Crafts movement in the UK, focusing on the exhibitions between 1880 and 1920. It necessarily goes into detail about, say, the increase in the number of textile firms at the end of the 19th century. There's a whole section that's a catalog of the era's designers, craftsmen, institutions and firms, for instance. If you're a serious student of the history of the movement, you'll be thrilled. Me -- not so much.

But that's perfectly okay, because I bought the book for its 153 illustrations, all of which are gorgeous. If you care about the designs from William Morris, CFA Voysey or Arthur Silver, you may have to wipe drool off your chin before it falls onto the book. The collection here -- all of which, I think, is represented from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London -- includes full color plates of the cloth patterns and embroidery, as well as some photos of the textiles in use (such as the Morris' bed at Kelmscot Manor). This is just gosh-durn PRETTY stuff, and well worth flipping through. It's positively inspiring for anyone contemplating authentic stencils, or embroidery, or (my excuse) quilting designs.


Very comprehensive!   August 5, 2008
You'll only need to have this book on textiles of the Arts and Crafts Movement in your library - it's that good!