Notes from the Textile Collection: The Journal of Design and Manufactures

What have we here? Get up close to a true gem from the SDC’s Textile Collection this month, as our historical collections officer Shelley Hollingdrake guides you through a momentous period in design history via the pages of The Journal of Design and Manufactures, No. 25, March 1, 1851, Vol. V.

In the bustling heart of 19th-century England, two pioneering minds – Sir Henry Cole and painter Richard Redgrave – set out to shape the future of design. In 1849, they launched ‘The Journal of Design and Manufactures’, a publication dedicated to the promotion of “the germs of a style which England of the nineteenth century may call its own.” 

As one of the first periodicals devoted to the applied and decorative arts, the journal quickly became a beacon for innovation. And then, in 1851, came Cole’s Great Exhibition – an unprecedented event that showcased the best in global industry and craftsmanship. This was the moment Cole and Redgrave had been working toward. With their unique blend of ‘art applied to industry’, The Journal of Design and Manufactures was a resounding triumph. 

The journal, we’re thrilled to share, features articles that offer exciting insight into the preparations for this monumental event, including references to the School of Design, detailed descriptions of the decorative arts, and the very items destined for display at the exhibition. With fifty-six inserted patterns and numerous engravings, it offers us a portal to a fascinating creative period.

A pre-loved treasure

As we (carefully) leaf through the journal, we find the name W. H. Astington, Bramhall, dated September 30, 1910 inscribed in beautiful script. We imagine W. H. Astington, too, found great inspiration from what was inside, including the delightful fabric samples – original pieces from the exhibition itself! 

Take, for example, the Balzarine sample, printed by Inglis and Wakefield and featured under “PRINTED FABRICS” in the Great Exhibition. This pattern, dyed with their new patent ‘dahlia colour’, is a vivid example of the era’s design innovation. 

Further along, we discover ‘Chintz Furniture Printed for J and A Crocker’, and ‘Cotton. Printed for the Indian Market by A. Orr Ewing and Co. of Glasgow’. Each sample tells a story of craft, commerce, and worldwide collaboration in a way words could never convey alone.  

What a pleasure and a privilege to care for such fantastic samples, as well as all the other information in the book. With every turn of the page, one cannot help but be awed by the intent behind the Great Exhibition and the innovation, skill and relationship between art and industry in the mid nineteenth century.

W. H. Astington may have cherished this book more than a century ago, and we can only hope they enjoyed it as much as we do today. As we continue our work, we’re committed to preserving and sharing treasures like this in our collection for generations to come.  

For more exciting finds from our Textile Collection, captivating stories, and objects that have changed our world, explore our blog or sign up to our newsletter at the bottom of this page.