A little over a month ago Lois posted the most wonderful vintage textiles for children here. She has a wonderful collection of these pieces. Awhile back I posted some textiles, but not as a category, and I did show a photo of this. Returning to it, I hope to shed some light on this genre and give more detail of this particular piece. The one above is quite endearing as it is lovingly mended, and one knows it was a cherished piece.
The unusual fact about this length of fabric (it is 1 yd 14″ and 36″ wide) is that the top piece is folded under and hemmed and the bottom is not. It was never cut for any sewing use, but obviously used as a special piece in some way because it has various mended places and some stains as well.
It pictures so many of the wonderful nursery rhymes in vivid and beautiful representation, Little Red Riding Hood,
Jack and Jill,
Little Bo Peep,
Little Jack Horner,
Humpty Dumpty, and so many others.
Susan Mellers and Joost Elffers in their book Textile Designs describes these prints as “Juveniles”. They “weren’t seen much until the end of the nineteenth century and became an industry unto themselves only after World War I.” They describe the popularity of the English artist, Kate Greenaway, and the influence of her art and representation of children. Another observation that they shared was that when parents chose “their offspring’s clothes [sic], children were made to wear idealized pictures of children.” And now children manage to have more say in what they want to wear and are more inclined to “choose bright colors and cartoon characters.”
OOooooh, a great piece of fabric. What shall you do with it? These are the things that I “have” to have, only to add to the stash and deliberate over “should I or shouldn’t I” cut/use it. Perhaps stretch over a frame and just hung on the wall as it-graphic, instant art?
Nancy
Well, Nancy, I think I am going to sell this piece at some point. After all, we cannot keep everything. I also find that after I have and hold something for awhile, I am ready and willing to let it go. At first, I seem so bent on keeping it, and later I find I can no longer have the attachment I once had.
I pushed the submit button too soon…Just think of sitting in the rocking chair when Lincoln is a bit older, naming all that he sees, saying the rhymes, snuggling on a afternoon.
Nancy
Now that sounds very enticing indeed! It really is a storybook textile. Thanks, Nancy. Just wondering when you are leaving for England!
That is a wonderful piece. The muted colours and mending speak of its use and history.
Thanks for sharing.
I am curious about your studies. Are you designing any new clothing these days?
The egg is my favorite!
It is a small part of it, not as colorful but really full of character.
you do have an eye for special things.
There is a pattern to my eye, but I would have to say it is mostly driven by color and shape, and it goes way back and beyond the language of wishes. I think it began with dreams.
Oh, I love this piece of fabric! I especially love it that you enlarged the story fragments so we could see them more clearly. This almost seems as if it might belong in a fabric museum somewhere ~ is there such a thing? Because you have taken photos of it, you can keep it and give it away, too! xo Kari
Hi Phyllis, sorry it has taken me so long to catch up with you, I have been away a few times; dashing hither and yon… I am back home now, and M has returned to university for her second year, so i can begin to settle back down to doing some ‘me’ things, and some work…
I really, really love this textile, I have never come accross the design, it is totally stunning, so many nursery rhymes rendered so exquisitely with charm and elegance, no soppy sentimentality here! I think you are right, this looks like quite an early piece, it has a late 19th century, early 20th century feel to it, perhaps with a hint of Art Nouveau delicacy and design, so maybe about 1890-1915? Do you think it is an American piece? I have seen a pic of a printed textile from Lowell, Massachusetts called Children at Play dating to about 1886/90, and while it is a completely different piece- it has been roller-printed to resemble a patchwork quilt – the delicacy of the scenes kind of puts me in mind of this. I shall try to email you a pic of this fabric, as I am sure it will interest you!
I think this piece may have been a simple curtain/drape, I often come across pieces that have quite simply had the top turned over to take a curtain wire/string or slim pole, this would account for the mending and fading and the minimal construction. If this was the case, it would have looked really magical with the sunlight filtering through it, the lucky child who could gaze at it before starting the day’s chores & play would have really enjoyed contemplating its charming scenes… there are of course lots of other possibilities, perhaps as a well-loved wall-hanging brought out to thrill successive children at times of celebration like Christmas & birthdays etc.
Thanks for sharing it Phyllis, I adore it, it is most certainly one of the prettiest, most evocative pieces of this type that I have ever come accross. xxx
Lois, I really appreciated your comments on this piece since you are the expert in this field. I like the ideas of its use(s). If I had been a child I would have loved naptimes and bedtimes, a chance to stare at this piece while I fell asleep. I will have to check the piece you found in Lowell, MA and see if I can locate the one you are referring to. Perhaps this one is an earlier piece. I thought it might have been from the 20′s, but if it is earlier then I am even more pleased. I guess this is why I will always be on the hunt even though now I seldom buy unless it is really exceptional and unique. I wish M lots of luck as she approaches her second year of university. Time flies all too quickly, and soon she will be graduating!