Saturday, June 30, 2012

Unusual Artifacts: The Coventry Town Ribbon, 1851

Coventry Town Ribbon
1851
The Victoria & Albert Museum



This silk, jacquard-woven bonnet ribbon was not made for use, but rather was made to demonstrate the work of the manufacturer and their technical abilities. The piece was made specifically for the Great Exhibition of 1851 where it was praised for its intricate detail and the realism of the floral design.


Made in Coventry, England, sadly, the ribbon’s specific maker is unknown. However, it was designed by one M. Clack who was a pupil of Coventry School of Art. The people of Coventry were very proud of the honors which the ribbon received at the Great Exhibition and soon found that the appearance of this ribbon helped to increase the demand for Coventry-made ribbon products such as trimmings, bookmarks and other woven keepsakes. 





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