ⓒ Work in copyright. All rights reserved.

Rug design

Maker

Attributed to
(artist)
1879-1961

Attributed to
(artist)
1866-1934

Title

Rug design

Date of Production

1913 - 1919

Medium

graphite and bodycolour on wove paper, with pinholes at upper left and lower right corners

Dimensions

Height: 20.8 cm
Width: 35.6 cm

Accession Number

D.1958.PD.87

Mode of Acquisition

Pamela Diamand, gift, 1958

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

© Estate of Vanessa Bell. All rights reserved, DACS 2023

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords









Label Text

The orderly geometric pattern and symmetrical composition of this rug design stand in stark contrast to most of Bell’s designs for the Omega Workshops, making it highly unusual in her oeuvre. Because of this, some scholars have speculated that it is the work of Roger Fry. However, Duncan Grant identified it as Bell’s work shortly after her death. A further possibility is that it was the result of a collaboration between Bell and Fry.

Provenance

Roger Fry (1866-1934); by descent to his daughter Pamela Diamand; Pamela Diamand Gift 1958

Exhibition History

Vanessa Bell: A Pioneer of Modern Art, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 25/05/2024-06/10/2024

The Bloomsbury Group, Nivaagaard Collection, Denmark, 06/03/2025-10/08/2025

Special Display - Bloomsbury Art & Design, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 18/02/2017-20/09/2017 ...More

Roger Fry and the Omega Workshops, The Courtauld Gallery (Prints and Drawings Study Room), 01/08/1990-02/12/1990

El Grup de Bloomsbury, Sala d'Exposicions de la Caixa, Barcelona, 01/09/1986-01/10/1986

The Omega Workshops 1913 to 1919, Crafts Council Gallery, London, 18/01/1984-18/03/1984 ...Less

Literature

The Omega Workshops 1913 to 1919, Crafts Council Gallery, London, 1984
cat. no. D18

El Grup de Bloomsbury, Sala d'Exposicions de la Caixa, Barcelona, Spain, 1986
cat. no. 44

Beyond Bloomsbury - Designs of the Omega Workshops 1913-19, Courtauld Gallery, London, 2009
Appendix, no. 12
ill. on p. 170

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Inscription: Verso: centre: “Duncan Grant thought / this might have been / designed by Vanessa Bell”; lower left, blue ink: “HHF. 263”.

Collector's mark: none.

Information on this object may be incomplete and will be updated as research progresses. We are particularly committed to addressing any discriminatory or offensive language and ideas that might be present in our records. To help improve this record, and to enquire about images of The Courtauld Gallery Collection, please email gallery.collectionsonline@courtauld.ac.ukFind out more about using and licensing our images.

____________________________

Buy a print from our collection