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The journal of design and manufactures
(1851)
[Original papers: Woven fabrics exhibited at the Exhibition of 1851.], pp. 65-78
Page 77
Woven Fabrics Exhibited at the Exhibition of 1851. WOVEN FABRICS FXHIBITD AT THE EXHMITION OF 1851. WHIIST our contemporaries on all sides are exerting themselves to repre- sent the objects of the Exhibition by wood-engravings, it will be our aim to apply our own peculiar plan of giving specimens of the actual fabrics themselves to illustrate the several classes of manufactures, susceptible of such a mode of illustration; and we axe happy to be able to make a successful beginning thus early even in the present number. At the same time we may observe, that the natural anxiety of manufacturers to exert themselves to the utmost for this great occasion, and not to be satisfied with anything but the most perfect performances, has tended to limit the extent of our present selection. We hope to make it much more ample in future numbers. Manufacturers who may wish to avail themselves of the opportunity of thus perpetuating specimens of their efforts, after the Exhibition itself shall have passed away, will receive any assistance that may be in our power in meeting their wishes, and we request them to take an early opportunity of communicating with our publishers, and sending specimens of the fabrics they desire to be inserted. We do not propose to limit these to ornamental fabrics, but we shall be happy to insert cloths and woven fabrics of any kind whatever that have any peculiar merit to recommend them, either in process of manufacture, in the materials used, or in the design. We do not pretend at present, before the Exhibition is opened, to make any comparison between the present examples and others which are likely to compete with them, either of British or foreign manufacture; we feel, how- ever, that we may commend the whole of these specimens for their positive excellencies. The three exhibited by Messrs. Liddiard are chosen from a stock more -elect than numerous, prepared to shew not merely all the kinds of printing for which their house has taken the lead for nearly a century, but also some novelties in dyeing and colours. The new lavender muslin presents a new mineral colour, the production of which is wholly due to the Exhibition, and was the discovery of Mr. Lightfoot, of Boak Works. It is of the same class as the ultramarine blue for which the French obtained deserved success some seasons back. As a colour it is both new and successful, and likely to be a favourite. The brilliant and well-executed butter ly muslin is exhibited to shew an unusual number of printings in madder work. Upwards of eighteen blocks have been employed, and so true and delicate have the fittings and registers been kept, that it reminds us of the early days of fine chintz printing at Chel- sea, when flowers were actually painted in by hand. The designer has evidently gone to nature direct for his models. The studies of the butterflies are characteristic, and the arrangement of them on the ground is well and equally distributed. But the greatest tour deforce of Messrs. Liddiard is the madder chintz in fast colours, printed with nineteen blocks on satin cotton cloth. The difficulties of obtaining so much brilliancy and purity of colouring, especially in the shades of reds and lilacs on a black ground, every practical printer will understand, and the worknan's skill in the printing is quite first-rate. Although Messrs. Liddiard, as being connected with Mr. John flargreaves, one of the jury, cannot receive a medal, we thin the worman might. The group- ings of tis chintz are very and the designer in this, as in the former specimen, shews how attentively he has studied nature. This beautiful design is produced on all kinds of clotbsi, silk and cotton, wool, and wool and cotton, so that every one, according to the length ofher purse, may possess a dress of it. The colours on the s de soic are most brilliant, and we may expect it to be one of the triump of the English printer in the Exhibi- tion. We hope to be able to give other illustrations of Messrs. Liddiard's suc- cessin a future number. As cheap fabrics for the Indian market, Messrs. Ewing's gay cottoni are excellent. The colours in the pine pattern are brilliant and very harnoniously balanced. We are glad to notice that, although a general type has
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