2nd Jun, 2015 10:00
20TH CENTURY DECORATIVE ART & DESIGN
297
▲ Phyllis Mould (20th century) 'STEAMBOAT' Ten lithographed wallpaper sheets
'STEAMBOAT'
Ten lithographed wallpaper sheets, printed by The Curwen Press
61.5 x 58cm (10)
For an identical sheet see Oman, Charles C. and Hamilton, Jean, 'Wallpapers: A History and Illustrated Catalogue of the hope that by some streak of luck Miss Mould may benefit. It would expedite matters if you could write direct to Miss Mould when the time is ripe - Goldsmith's has now ceased for the summer vacation & it is not likely that I shall see her again.' (Taken from a letter to Elspeth Little June 27 1931).
The Curwen Press, who printed the wallpaper, was one of the most important commercial printing companies of the inter-war years commissioning many artists for designs for books, graphic art and advertising.
.
Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London', Sotheby Publications, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982.
Phyllis Mould studied printing at Goldsmiths' College of Art, where she was tutored by Edward Bawden in 1930-31. The design for 'Steamboat' is reminiscent of Bawden's work and one can see his influence in the design.
The vendor's mother was Elspeth Anne Burder (née Little), who established a shop called 'Modern Textiles' in the fashionable Beauchamp Place, South Kensington in 1926. These wallpaper squares were probably commissioned by her and sold through the shop along with designs by Edward Bawden.
Modern Textiles was founded to promote good design and to sell fabrics and other items, including wallpaper, printed by designers such as Phyllis Barron, Enid Marx and artists Paul Nash, Eric Kennington and Norman Wilkinson.
In the shop's publicity material, it stated 'the object of Modern Textiles is to sell work of good design, principally fabrics of various kinds. A few people already know that well designed materials are being made by one or two artists, but the promoters of 'Modern Textiles' believe a very much larger public than is generally supposed would be eager to buy stuffs of individuality and beauty, whether for dresses or furnishing, if there were better opportunity for selection'
The sign hanging outside the shop was designed and painted by Nash.
Through correspondence seen within the vendor's archive, it is possible to see Bawden's commitment to finding Miss Mould a good position in the design industry. He writes of his worry for her opportunities after college and getting a poorly paid job as an assistant in a textile manufacturer or even teaching leatherwork. 'I feel that Miss Mould is too good for this sort of slavery & I should certainly welcome an introduction to Arthur Lee of Birkenhead if you can hastily get it. It is very kind of you to suggest it & I
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Sold for £300
Condition Report
All are in a sleeve, minor corner creasing - kept in an attic for 60 years.
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Auction: 20TH CENTURY DECORATIVE ART & DESIGN, 2nd Jun, 2015
Viewing
29 May 2015 9.00am - 5.00pm
31 May 2015 10.00am - 1.00pm
1 June 2015 9.00am - 5.00pm
2 June 2015 from 9.00am
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