Osborne House, Isle of White.
Osbourne House was built under the supervision of Prince Albert between 1845 and 1851. It was intended as a summer home and rural retreat for himself, Queen Victoria and their large family. It was used as Royal residence until the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, it is now an English Heritage Property .
With a mix of private family rooms and grand State rooms the property was a much loved family home with private grounds and its own beach. Victoria and Albert were famed for their passion for the arts and the decoration reflects their personal tastes and choices. Humphries Weaving were involved in the extensive restoration of the State Rooms.
Read more about the design and restoration at Osborne house
The Drawing Room and Billiard Room
The Billiard Room is separated from the Drawing Room by a columned screen and drawn curtains, both are decorated in striking amber of the 1890’s.
Pure silk 63 inch wide (160cm) damask in brilliant amber for the Drawing Room and Billiard Room window drapes, upholstery and dividing curtain. The design was redrawn from remaining early 19th Century fragments, of what was thought to be the original damask chosen. The design was in the style of Philippe de Lasalle which could be considered rather old fashioned by the time the house was completed. This fabric features an isometric design layout for which a Jacquard loom harness was specially built by Richard Humphries. Because the design was so finely detailed the loom required three Jacquard machines on the loom to give enough thread selection. The weaver was David Kerrison who took twelve months to complete the order. The design is not seen in any other Royal interiors. There is similar version of the design in the Warner Textile Archive, which could be the first weaving of the design for Osborne by Daniel Walters & Sons.
Project reference: 1759
The Dining Room
The Dining Room forms part of the State Rooms and fabric was woven for the restoration of the window drapes.
Pure silk crimson damask for the Dining Room window drapes woven 63 inches (160cm) wide. The same design can be seen at Hopetoun House Scotland, and the British embassy Paris, and a version of it can be found in the Warner Textile Archive.
Project reference: 1704
The Queen’s Bedroom
Drape linings for the bed in the Queen’s Bedroom.
Pure silk narrow woven lute in green for bed drape linings on Queen Victoria’s Bed.
Lute, Lutestring or Lustring were all plain cloths. Lute was used for facing, but lustring being lighter and more dress weight was used for linings.
Project reference: 1493
Drape linings for the bed in the Queen’s Bedroom.
Pure silk narrow woven lute in green for bed drape linings on Queen Victoria’s Bed.
Lute, Lutestring or Lustring were all plain cloths. Lute was used for facing, but lustring being lighter and more dress weight was used for linings.
Project reference: 1493
