ⓒ Work in copyright. All rights reserved.
Rug design
Maker
Attributed to
(artist)
1879-1961
Attributed to
(artist)
1866-1934
(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
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
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
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.
Inscription: Verso: centre: “Duncan Grant thought / this might have been / designed by Vanessa Bell”; lower left, blue ink: “HHF. 263”.
Collector's mark: none.
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