Burnoose
1915-1919 (Made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a rare example of a surviving silk garment from the Omega Workshops. In 1915 the Workshops began to produce clothing initially overseen by Vanessa Bell, the fashion department continued under various hands such as Joy Brown and Camille Doucet, until the Workshops closed in 1919. The majority of garments produced tended to be unique pieces, often handpainted, such as this burnoose. Very few of the garments survive and this burnoose is a rare and important example of an experimental approach to fashion in London in the early 20th century.
The burnoose came from the family of Robin Ravilious and formed part of her dressing up box when she was growing up. She was unaware of its significance until noticing that it was signed with the signature motif of the Omega workshop. She recalled that her great-grandmother Margaret Edina Duckworth, wife of the poet Sir Henry Newbolt, had links with the Bloomsbury group and it is probable that the garment came from her wardrobe.
The burnoose came from the family of Robin Ravilious and formed part of her dressing up box when she was growing up. She was unaware of its significance until noticing that it was signed with the signature motif of the Omega workshop. She recalled that her great-grandmother Margaret Edina Duckworth, wife of the poet Sir Henry Newbolt, had links with the Bloomsbury group and it is probable that the garment came from her wardrobe.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Handpainted silk |
| Brief description | Burnoose cape of handpainted silk with wooden bead edging, made by the Omega Workshops. The garment is made from natural coloured silk and painted a central circular motif featuring a bat in the centre, the design appears to eminate out from this central point with green diagonal lines surrounded by a border featuring beetle motifs surrounded by purple, pink and orange lines. The edge of the garment has a geometric patterned border in purple, pink and orange and is trimmed with pink silk embroidery thread, threaded with pink wooden beads and worked in a blanket stitch. The central neckline and the waistline have green silk and wooden bead tassle closures. |
| Physical description | Burnoose cape of handpainted silk with wooden bead edging, made by the Omega Workshops. The garment is made from natural coloured silk and painted a central circular motif featuring a bat in the centre, the design appears to eminate out from this central point with green diagonal lines surrounded by a border featuring beetle motifs surrounded by purple, pink and orange lines. The edge of the garment has a geometric patterned border in purple, pink and orange and is trimmed with pink silk embroidery thread, threaded with pink wooden beads and worked in a blanket stitch. The central neckline and the waistline have green silk and wooden bead tassle closures. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Object history | This is a rare example of a surviving silk garment from the Omega Workshops. In 1915 the Workshops began to produce clothing initially overseen by Vanessa Bell, the fashion department continued under various hands such as Joy Brown and Camille Doucet, until the Workshops closed in 1919. The majority of garments produced tended to be unique pieces, often handpainted, such as this burnoose. Very few of the garments survive and this burnoose is a rare and important example of an experimental approach to fashion in London in the early 20th century. The burnoose came from the family of Robin Ravilious and formed part of her dressing up box when she was growing up. She was unaware of its significance until noticing that it was signed with the signature motif of the Omega workshop. She recalled that her great-grandmother Margaret Edina Duckworth, wife of the poet Sir Henry Newbolt, had links with the Bloomsbury group. |
| Associations | |
| Summary | This is a rare example of a surviving silk garment from the Omega Workshops. In 1915 the Workshops began to produce clothing initially overseen by Vanessa Bell, the fashion department continued under various hands such as Joy Brown and Camille Doucet, until the Workshops closed in 1919. The majority of garments produced tended to be unique pieces, often handpainted, such as this burnoose. Very few of the garments survive and this burnoose is a rare and important example of an experimental approach to fashion in London in the early 20th century. The burnoose came from the family of Robin Ravilious and formed part of her dressing up box when she was growing up. She was unaware of its significance until noticing that it was signed with the signature motif of the Omega workshop. She recalled that her great-grandmother Margaret Edina Duckworth, wife of the poet Sir Henry Newbolt, had links with the Bloomsbury group and it is probable that the garment came from her wardrobe. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.118-2012 |
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| Record created | July 31, 2012 |
| Record URL |
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