By Joyce Conwy Evans, The Edinburgh Tapestry Co., Dovecot Studios
Located in South Charleston, WV
200 inches (16 feet 8 inches) wide by 7 foot 10" (94") tall. Wool. Designed by UK Designer Joyce Conwy Evans who was commissioned in 1964 by the Eastbourne Water Works in England. Titled "The Elements" and depicting human figures celebrating life and the various elements of; such as water rain, snow, wind, plants, stars and the sun with figures in an abstract depiction.
London designer Joyce Conwy Evans's career has spanned over sixty years. She designed over eighteen tapestries for Dovecot Studios including major commissions for the new Park Lane Hilton Hotel in 1962 and Trinity Chapel of Canterbury Cathedral and this one. She is a noted costume designer creating costumes and set designs for Sadler's Wells and Glyndebourne Opera. In recent years Evans designed the interiors for the Inn at Little Washington in Virginia. Evans worked for many years for Sir Hugh Casson, a former president of the Royal Academy, who was commissioned to design interiors for Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
The Edinburgh Tapestry Co. (now known as Dovecot Studios) produced this by hand upon a large loom and it is significantly important for the company and designer with staggering complexity clearly evident. The plaque that accompanies this piece lists the 5 weavers who produced it (all of whom achieved the title Master weavers) and are all renowned in their own right:
Archie O. Brennan, who would come to direct the company.
Douglas Grierson, who gave 50 years to the company.
Maureen Hodge who was the first female weaver to apprentice at the company, and achieved international recognition for her work and designs.
Fred W. Mann and
Harry Wright.
Dovecot studios is renowned for producing some of the most important and highest quality modernist wall tapestries...
Category
1960s Scottish Mid-Century Modern Vintage West Virginia - Wall Decorations