Comments on: James Leman’s Album Of Silk Designs

By: Pamela Traves

Pamela Traves — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 07:09:33 +0000

Amazingly Beautiful!! Michael Dahl was Brilliant!!?????????

By: Vivienne

Vivienne — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 22:29:58 +0000

Thanks for positing these images of the fabrics – they are wonderful.

By: Jill Wilson

Jill Wilson — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 18:16:45 +0000

I have had another chance to study these designs in detail and it is fascinating to work out how the repeat patterns work. It would be lovely to see the single designs repeated and joined together to get a better idea of how the finished fabric would look.

Stunning, I’m sure!

By: Bailey Jones

Bailey Jones — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 17:59:17 +0000

Such richness and beauty. The botanical inspiration is so well realised and presented.

Last year, inspired in part by the Gentle Author’s posts about the Spitalfields’ weaving industry, I read The Silk Weaver, a novel by Liz Trenow. I enjoyed it.

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 13:35:48 +0000

The very essence of the word “lavish”. I imagine myself in a low-lit textile library room, wearing my white cotton “inspection” gloves, and wordlessly turning each page of this amazing, singular
volume. I can imagine the incredible garments, made of this magical cloth. How they spun around a dance floor, swept down a marble staircase (“I’ll be right there — hold the coach!”),
and elegantly scrunched into a gilt chair for a candlelit dinner. Bustles, galloons, bindings-on-the-bias, YARDS of skirts, boned bodices, zero restraint — and endless beauty.

I shudder to think how many of these vintage sample books have been lost or discarded — thankfully some have survived the ages, to tickle our imaginations.

Thank you GA for this beautiful banquet!

By: Pauline Taylor

Pauline Taylor — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 13:07:48 +0000

I stand (or rather sit) in awe in front of these beautiful designs, what an incredibly gifted man James Leman was, and if one could choose one or two people, from the 18th century, whom one could meet and talk to, he surely would be one of my choices.
My 4 x great grandfather, William Tearoe, married Ann Delamare (De la Mare) the daughter of Peter Delamare, a silk thrower of Steward Street, Spitalfields, so the Lemans and the Delamares were obviously neighbours. William and Ann were married May 7, 1764 at St Margaret, Westminster. I wonder if any members of the Leman family were there?

By: Joan Johnson

Joan Johnson — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 10:50:59 +0000

Stunningly beautiful. A number of James Leman’s designs appear in the V&A book ‘Spitalfield Silks’ which is also accompanied by a high resolution image disc for viewing on a computer.

By: Richard Smith

Richard Smith — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 10:37:36 +0000

Amazing and beautiful images. Thank you.

By: Penny Gardner

Penny Gardner — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 09:49:20 +0000

Check out James Mead fabrics, still made in Britain too. Not just for old fuddie duddies. Give them your support.

By: Jill Wilson

Jill Wilson — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 09:06:09 +0000

These are stunning designs, and as you say GA they look incredibly modern.

They remind me of the excitement in the Sixties when psychedelic flower power designs were all the rage, and my sister and I spent many hours making ourselves colourful mini dresses!

And the comparison of the painted design and the woven fabric is particularly fascinating. The pink in the fabric is fabulous and must have been truly sensational at the time.