V&A PATTERN: SANDERSON 1954-74 Book and CD-ROM

Founded in 1860 by Arthur Sanderson and initially providing only wall coverings, the manufacturer introduced paints and associated supplies in 1900, illustrated style guides in 1911, and printed fabrics at the end of the First World War when there were severe paper shortages. Sanderson manufactured woven fabrics from 1934 and after the Second World War introduced forward-looking modern styles. They mounted exhibitions in 1952, 54 and 56 attracting over 16,000 visitors in its ten-day run and with decorative schemes by Sir Hugh Casson, Professor of Interior Design at the RCA. They featured wallpapers and fabrics from Swedish, German and other manufacturers and employed hand block and screen printing for limited edition reproductions and avant-garde designs. Their presses, the most advanced in the country, provided flock, surface, flexographic and gravure papers, including faux wood and stone effects. New Triad collections were introduced in 1974 when in-house designers were fostered including Robert Holmes, Pat Etheridge (plate 63) and Davina Spring (plate 62 and 64). Following a short introduction, the entire book is composed of full page colour reproductions, some 65 in total. Each pattern is reproduced on the accompanying CD-ROM in 71 high resolution images of these beautiful patterns for any number of craft projects.