exhibition: very sanderson: 150 years of english decoration

Now open at the Fashion and Textile Museum until 13th June 2010. Last week the highly anticipated ‘Very Sanderson – 150 years of English Decoration’ exhibition opened in London, and is already attracting high visitor numbers. The work of this most quintessentially English company will be showcased in the exhibition as part of the Sanderson 150th anniversary celebrations and will take visitors on a tour de force of their history in English decoration.

When Arthur Sanderson set up his business in 1860 as an importer of French wallpapers he could scarcely have imagined that a century later it would have grown into a company with a landmark London showroom serving an international market. One hundred and fifty years since it started Sanderson is still going strong today, however, the exhibition charts not just the Sanderson story, but the social history of a country reflected through domestic furnishings and the changing social mores of society.

The exhibition is accompanied by a fascinating series of talks and events including:

Interior Design Workshop – Saturday 8th May

An ideal taster session for anyone with a penchant for interior design, led by interior designer Daniel Hopwood, one of the presenters of Britain’s Best Home on Channel 4, renowned for his glamorous, high end homes as well as work in the capital’s top restaurants and boutique hotels.

To Stay the Same, Everything Must Change – Interpreting and recreating decorative colour schemes in historic buildings – Christopher Vane Percy – Friday 14th May

This is a must for anyone who has ever wandered around an historic building or country house and marvelled at the décor. After starting his design career with Asprey, Christopher Vane Percy formed his own company, CVP Designs, in 1971 with projects ranging from private London houses to commercial assignments and numerous international commissions.

 Textile Design Workshop – Claire Sly – Saturday 29th May

A day to be inspired by Sanderson textiles and create a design to decorate your own beautiful fabric which can be made into a scarf, cushion or bag. We will look at different design layouts, patterns, textures, techniques and use of colour to create something unique and wonderful. You will have the options of hand painting, machine embroidery, hand stitching and embellishing.

Exhibition Highlights Talk- Last Friday of the month throughout the exhibition

2.30pm, duration approximately 30–45 minutes

Join a member of the FTM’s curatorial team on this free tour, which will guide visitors around some of the key highlights and themes of the exhibition. Pre-booking is available at the FTM reception on arrival or in advance.

To coincide with the exhibition The Shop@FTM has a range of Sanderson 150th Anniversary special edition products including ‘A Painters Garden’ soaps, hand wash, hand lotion, scented sachets drawer liners and gift sets. Stationery including writing sets, greeting cards, notebooks, cards, notelets sets  and ceramic  mugs, tea-sets and coffee sets featuring Sanderson Dandelion Clocks and Etchings and Roses designs.

Coming soon our very own resident knitwear expert Claire Newberry fill us in first hand on the exhibition from her own creative perspective.

For more information on the Very Sanderson exhibition, click here.

Image source: ftmlondon.org