Modern Print Monday: Arthur Silver & Silver Studios

Hera or Peacock Feather 

Often attributed to Arthur Silver of the Silver Studios

1895

also Rex Silver 1900 or

Christopher Dresser in 1876

Liberty & Company Ltd. About 1900

Collection: Middlesex University's Museum of 

Domestic Design & Architecture

Hera is a print that defined it's era, turn-of-the-century art nouveau. The peacock feather print has been a big seller for well over a century.

Liberty reprinted and recolored Hera in the 1970s, and 

again it became a classic in that decade of art-nouveau revival.

The paper label on the right on this sample from the Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture collection says:

"First designed in 1900 by Rex Silver, used in 1975 as Liberty's Centenary Symbol."

Isabella & Arthur Silver

About 1895

Collection of:

Middlesex University's Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture

The design is usually attributed to Arthur Silver (1853-1896), founder of London's Silver Studios.

That influential company's records are at Middlesex University's Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture, MoDa (a catchy name don't you think?)

Us: 

Moda Fabrics from United Notions

Them:

Middlesex University's Museum of 

Domestic Design & Architecture

On their website they discuss recent research by Harry Lyons indicating an earlier patent to Christopher Dresser for the peacock feather pattern. Silver Studios sold designs to a number of textile and wallpaper manufacturers including Liberty of London.

http://www.moda.mdx.ac.uk/results?adv_text=hera&session=_7ISwsKTp9s&mi_search_type=adv&per_page=25&mi_adv_search=yes&x=0&y=0

Arthur Silver died at 43, soon after the photo above was taken. His sons ran Silver Studios until 1963. Son Rex is also credited with Hera. Do a search for Silver Studios at the MoDa website (the other MoDa). See if this link works:

http://www.moda.mdx.ac.uk/results?adv_text=silver+studios&session=_7ISwsKTp9s&mi_search_type=adv&per_page=25&mi_adv_search=yes&x=0&y=0

You'll find an abundance of art nouveau textile pattern there.

And read a PDF on the history of the Silver Studios Collection by clicking here:
http://www.moda.mdx.ac.uk/download?id=18663

The MoDa museum's blog address:
http://modamuseum.blogspot.com