Very Sanderson – 150 Years of English Decoration
In 2010, Sanderson celebrates its 150th anniversary and to mark this occasion the highly anticipated ‘Very Sanderson – 150 years of English Decoration’ exhibition opened at the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey Street, London. This is a momentous occasion for the oldest surviving English brand in its field. The Sanderson story spans many eras of changing tastes and styles and their designs have moved with the times, always reflecting contemporary style and new technologies. Whilst the company has had struggles and successes over the last 150 years it still remains a prosperous British business with an international reputation for lasting quality and timeless style.
Arthur Sanderson set up his business in Islington, London in 1860 as an importer of French wallpapers. He could scarecly have imagined that a century later it would have grown into a company with a landmark London showroom serving an international market. Sanderson is still going strong today. The exhibition not only charts the Sanderson story but the social history of a country reflected through domestic furnishings.
There are various talks and events taking place during the exhibition including an interior design workshop led by interior designer Daniel Hopwood, one of the presenters of Britain’s Best Home and a Textile design workshop inspired by Sanderson textiles. If you love wandering around historic buildings you may be interested in the To Stay the Same Everything Must Change workshop which interprets and recreates decorative colour schemes in historic buildings. On the 29th May 2010 there is a Textile
Design workshop which is a day inspired by Sanderson textiles where you can create a design to decorate your own beautiful fabric which can be made into a scarf, cushion or bag.
To coincide with the exhibition The Shop at the museum 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. There is also a range of stationery including writing sets, greeting cards, notebooks, cards, notelets sets and a range of tableware including ceramic mugs, teasets and coffee sets featuring Sanderson Dandelion Clocks and Etchings and Roses designs.
The exhibition runs until the 13th June 2010. The exhibition opening times are Wednesday – Sunday, 11am – 6pm with a last admission at 5.15pm. Ticket prices are £6.50 for adults, £3.50 for students and concessions, free entry for under 12s. For further information about the Fashion and Textiles Museum and its activities visit www.ftmlondon.org. For more information please call 020 7407 8664.
The Sanderson umbrella now encompasses Zoffany, William Morris, Harlequin, Harlequin Harris and Walker Greenbank PLC all of which have extensive and innovative designs in fabric and wallpaper. Sanderson now offer fabric, bedlinen, wallpaper, tableware and paint and even a range of beautifully fragranced toiletries.
Co-inciding with the 150 year celebrations, the Sanderson studio introduces ‘Vintage Fabrics’. Nine printed fabrics and two embroideries offer a glimpse of the treasures in Sanderson’s unparalleled archive. The resulting collection is a celebration of the creativity and diversity of Sanderson over the past 150 years.
We are proud to be stockists of the Sanderson range. If you require any samples, fabric or wallpaper please do not hesitate to call us on 020 8239 1134. For full details of the events visit the Sanderson official website.
