Cecil Collins, R.A.

Commissioned by a Scottish-Italian Family, Edinburgh, for their house in Fiesole overlooking Florence, and thence by descent to the present owner

London, Whitechapel Art Gallery, Cecil Collins: A Retrospective Exhibition of Paintings, Drawings and Tapestries 1928-1959, November - December 1959, cat. no.227, illustrated in the catalogue pl.XVII;
Washington D.C., Smithsonian Institution, British Artist Craftsmen: An Exhibition of Contemporary Work, 1959-60, cat.no. 164.

The Scotsman, Tapestry Cutting Ceremony: For Exhibition in U.S. and Canada, 23rd October 1958, illustrated.

Overall, the tapestry is in good overall condition with original colours. The tapestry has been hanging and there is thin cotton tape stitched to the reverse of the top edge with multiple hanging rings. The work would benefit from a velcro base for hanging. The surface is dirty and would also benefit from a clean and flushing through. There are as few tiny snags and pulled threads to the border. There is also a small hole with loose threads to the right border, which is possibly from moth but there is no evidence of current infestation. Please telephone the department on 020 7293 6424 if you have any questions regarding the present work.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Although he produced very few designs for tapestry and textiles, it seems to have been a medium that lent itself to Collins' style and palette. His first essay in this area came in 1949 with the commission from Edinburgh Weavers of The Garden of Fools, and after the commission for the present work in 1954, he also produced two further designs for linen fabrics for the same company. He was also commissioned by the Ministry of Works in 1959 to produce a design for the main curtain of the conference hall in the new British Embassy in Washington, D.C. Illustrating characters from Shakespearean drama, the original studies for this design were sold in these rooms on 21st July 2005, lot 55.

The present work was woven by Ronald Cruickshank over a four month period in 1958 at the Golden Targe Studio, Edinburgh, and an image of the tapestry being cut away from the loom was published in the Scotsman (23rd October 1958). Loom cutting is a traditional Scottish ceremony which dates back to the seventeenth century.