Wednesday 13 October 2010

Turkey Reds

Above: circa 1810 -20 gouaches of textile designs from the studio of an Alsace textile mill. Called Turkey Reds.
Above: These patterns were called mignonettes, for reasons that are probably obvious.


Above: swatches sent to Christophe Philippe Oberkampf in 1791, confirming a textile order. Those who work in the fashion industry today know that some things haven't changed: although the rows of little numbered swatches that we see now aren't quite as captivating.

All from Susan Meller & Joost Elffers, Textile Designs, Thames and Hudson 1991. A fantastic reference for anyone interested in beautiful textiles and their social context.

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By the way, my work was recently featured in the brilliant Rojo and Garabato magazine from Spain! Do look at all of the issues if you have the time.

AND I was also recently interviewed in a special "Crafty Illustrators" edition of the Illustrators Australia members' magazine Outline. Daniel asked great questions (he certainly does his homework) and I learned alot from the two other women he interviewed as well.

I will attach the pdf of the magazine if someone out there can explain how to do it!

4 comments:

rigel said...

These ancient swatches look like beautiful collages to me.
Big congrats on the feature and the interview! I'd love to read it!

Sandra Eterovic said...

Hi Rigel, thank you! Yes it was a very interesting edition of the magazine -- I will ask around and see if I can find a way to upload it.
;)

Elizabeth McTear said...

Our first collection in our shop was inspired by those Turkey Reds (it's called the Turkey Red Collection), and those swatch books are amazing. I love the patterns all butting up against each other. I have a book (I refer to it as my textile bible): Textile Designs: 200 Years European and American Patterns (http://www.amazon.com/Textile-Designs-European-American-Organized/dp/0810925087/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294511761&sr=1-1). I think you'd really enjoy it! I constantly refer back to it.

Sandra Eterovic said...

Thanks Elizabeth! I will definitely look that book up. I could stare at those little textile swatches for hours, they're so beautiful.