Oldschool Tools

This week we will be taking a glance at some tradesmen's tools which were used back in the Golden Days...

Three of these tools have been in our possession for a long time- the first was dropped in to our showroom just a week ago with suggestions of using it in our “Industrial” themed window display.

The Airlyne Rugmaker is quite a curious looking contraption – proclaiming to have once been “The World's Fastest Home Rugmaker”, it was invented by William Edward Humphreys Jones whilst at Airlyne Products, Abergele in the 1950′s.

The device is clamped to the edge of a table and one uses the foot strap to run the machine so their hands are completely free to manoeuvre the rug on the table.

There is a small screw which you move to determine how far the needle pushes through the base cloth, thus creating a long or short pile.

The thread is pulled up through the eye and shank of the needle with the aid of a wire which is provided with the Airlyne.

Getting your hands on one of these Airlyne Rugmakers won't set you back an awful lot at all. I'm sure it'll cost you more than the 28 and 6 pence that it originally went for, but chances are you could pick up one for less than the price of an Ikea rug and you are guaranteed to have a lot more fun making this!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-AIRLYNE-HOME-RUG-MAKER-MACHINE-KIT-1950s-/370772233327

The next little contraption we'll show you is our Robert's Cookie Cutter, a nifty little carpet repair tool.

This may have been used if say for instance cinders had left a scorch hole in your carpet- the Cookie Cutter is basically a blade fixed in to a circular handheld cutter with a pin fixed to its centre.

You press the pin into the centre of the offending area and twist clock-wise in a full circle.

You then remove the damaged piece and cut another piece for repair using the same method and once adhesive is applied to the exposed floor you line up the rows and insert the newly cut piece, smoothing over with you r fingers.

The Morgan Lee Trimmer is a wallpaper trimmer and it has been stored with its original instruction leaflet.

The leaflet claims that this invention will “make profits for enterprising decorators” and “will last a lifetime”.

I have no doubt about it. The tool came in handy when wallpapers were sold with a salvedge edge , which had to be cut away by the decorator before application.

See the instruction leaflet below for detail on use.

Roberts' Ankorite Tool is a British made headless pin machine for tacking down carpeting into place.

You place a tack into the opening and with the pin entered in to the Ankorite shaft, you hold it gainst the area of carpeting you wish to tack down and hammer the top of the tool. Using headless tacks means you are not left with great tack heads rusting your carpet and it also means you won't feel them so much underfoot. 

Each and every one of these tools could still be used today and would still be as functional and as efficient as they were when they were first introduced. 

Do you know anyone who still uses these tools today? If so please share this post and let us know, we would love to hear about their experiences with them! 

By Ciara Eloise Nolan.

The ReenRoe Hotel (Ostan Rinn Roe)

Sadly, some projects don’t last as long as others.

While on a recent journey to the Ring of Kerry we visited a hotel we furnished in 1971. 

The hotel would have depended heavily on the influx of American tourists and as may have been due to the troubles in the North at the time, tourism suffered and unfortunately the hotel closed down in the late 1980's.

Located on Ballinskelligs Bay, across from Waterville in a glorious but isolated location, the building has not been boarded up or closed off from curious wanderers and remains of some of the carpeting and underlay supplied by Martin – Hudson & Gibson Ltd are still visible.

Carpeting on a passageway which would have once been laid by Martin - Hudson & Gibson Ltd.

Underlay lays rolled and folded in one bedroom

Today the building stands alone on the hill, admiring the views that surround its ruins.

Bathroom tiles which would have been fitted in the new hotel, can still be seen today

One can still see what would have once been handsome red velvet buttoned seating

The beautiful stonework still stands amongst the debris on site at the ReenRoe Hotel

By Ciara Eloise Nolan

Damask for your Interiors

Damask for your Interiors!

I never really knew what damask was, not until recently. Another intern in the shop was explaining to me that the client she's assigned to work with has changed her mind from having owls on her bed posts to getting damask wallpaper, so that her bedroom would have some kind of detail (perhaps she has imagined the owls staring at her while she's sleeping?).

For you that doesn't know what damask is:

"is a reversible figured fabric of silk, wool, linen, cotton, or synthetic fibres, with a pattern formed by weaving. Damasks are woven with one warp yarn and one weft yarn, usually with the pattern in warp-faced satin weave and the ground in weft-faced or sateen weave. Twill damasks include a twill-woven ground or pattern".

'[It] is a weaving style or technique that originated in the early Middle Age near Damascus, Syria. This particular style typically produced very ornate and decorative patterns in the fabric... wonderful to use in a design that needs to have a vintage or ornate look.'

Since the damask was invented, the pattern has been used with different kinds of fabric; and by designers, adding their own touch to the original pattern.

Prolific designers such as Nina Campbell, Manuel Canovas, as well as the companies Osborn & Little and Cole & Son, have used computerized Jacquard looms (mechanical loom machine) to create their monochromatic weaving masterpieces.

Here are some examples of Damask design available for purchase by the people and companies I have named above:

Although there are many colour variations to choose from above, I still can't decide which I like the best.

While chatting to John Gibson the other day about damask and many things about it (I'd say he is a walking encyclopedia), he has mentioned a very beautiful and imaginative damask design by the company Osborne and Little: a very modern design, in my opinion yet shows that it has been influenced by the damask pattern. 

3. Osborne and Little - Chinese Dragon (Wallpaper Album 5 Collection)

Purple

 Black

Below are links to wallpaper books on websites where you can check out more vintage wallpapers - particularly one with damask touch on them:

Cole & Son:
- Fornasetti Collection
http://www.cole-and-son.com/collection_detail.asp?collectionid=104

Manuel Canovas:
- Papier Peint Bellegarde
http://designs.manuelcanovas.com/

Osborn and Little:
- Vintage
- Vintage II
- Stanza
- Komodo
- Folia
http://www.osborneandlittle.com/products-and-collections/wallcoverings

Nina Campbell
- Birdcage Walk Autumn 2006 http://shop.ninacampbell.com/luxury-wallpaper/autumn-2006

For more information about these wallpapers visit or contact:

Martin-Hudson & Gibson Ltd
http://mhg.ie/martin_hudson_gibson.asp
(contact details in the link above)

-Gera

Old Company Documents

Vintage Wednesday- 

Old Company Documents

Over the last few years, we here at Martin - Hudson & Gibson Ltd. have been compiling a little archive, detailing the history of the companys work since its establishment in 1958. 

These documents have come from all kinds of nooks & crannies, from all kinds of locations- including, most glamourously, being found in a skip & returned to John by a thoughtful customer.

As a company newcomer, it was interesting for me to study these old letters, invoices & photographs & appreciate the hard work that has been done over the last 55 years in order to build & maintain the good name of Martin - Hudson & Gibson Ltd.

Four locations later, in 1996, John Gibson moved to our current location beside the sea in Sandycove Road. With him came his extensive collection of fabrics, wallcoverings, antique furniture & most importantly his expertise in the field of interior design.

Here we have some documents taken from John’s nifty little archive. Note the varied paper sizes & the hand-typing. We came across one which even had a sewing pin in place of a staple. 

In so far as contact details, things sure have changed. An unfadeable telegram code & four-digit phone number sit nicely in the top right-hand corner.

Who knows, maybe in another 55 years this blog entry might make the company archive?!

-Louise Dockery-

Batiques

The company Martin Hudson & Gibson is full of wonders like these fabulous batiques.

 It is a method of decorating fabrics practiced for centuries by the natives of Indonesia. It consists of applying a design to the surface of the cloth by using melted wax. The material is then dipped in cool vegetable dye; the portions protected by the wax do not receive the dye, and when the wax is removed in hot water the previously covered areas display a light pattern on the colored ground. Remains of clothing found in Java indicate that the same or similar patterns have been in use for about 1,000 years and are handed down in families. Certain designs were traditionally reserved for royalty and high officials. Motifs are geometric or are based on conventionalized natural objects. Cotton cloth is generally used, and some silk. Batik was first brought into Europe by Dutch traders. In the 19th cent., Western artisans adopted the art.

 Although the word's origin is Javanese, its etymology may be either from the Javanese amba ('to write') and titik ('dot' or 'point'), or constructed from a hypothetical Proto-Austronesian root *beCík, meaning 'to tattoo' from the use of a needle in the process. The word is first recorded in English in the Encyclopædia Britannica of 1880, in which it is spelled battik. It is attested in the Indonesian Archipelago during the Dutch colonial period in various forms: mbatek, mbatik, batek and batik.

 Bernadette Madden works mainly in batik (wax resist on linen) and also makes screenprints on paper. She is born in Dublin, Ireland, Bernadette Madden studied  in the School of Painting at the National College of Art and Design , graduating in 1970. You'll can see on her website some batiks very beautiful like the following batique:
http://bernadettemadden.ie/ 

 Others artists have got websites with their batiks same as this one: http://www.batikartbybeth.com/

Martin - Hudson & Gibson - Carpeting the Grand Lodge of the Freemasons' Hall

Less than 50 meters from Leinster House one will discover the Freemasons' Hall on Molesworth Street. The very ornate Grand Lodge of Ireland's Freemasons was built in 1865 & is the governing body of hundreds of Lodges throughout Ireland.

Martin – Hudson & Gibson designed this carpet (pictured) for the Grand Lodge in the mid seventies in conjunction with Derek Ryan (Ryan O’Brien Handy), the Masonic architect for the Grand Lodge Room.

It reflects traditional Masonic symbols & emblems & would be recognized by masons all over the world.

For those interested in the technical details, the carpet was woven on Chlidema Wilton looms by Hugh Mackay of Durham as a 27” wide body carpet. It was woven in black & cream with the border woven at each end of each length & hand sewn on site by William Free.

The Freemasons' Hall is located at 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. It is open to the public for conducted tours at 2:30 pm Monday to Friday. Appointments can be made outside these times by phoning 01 676 1337. 

Go to the first floor where you will be able to admire the carpeting in The Grand Lodge Room!

For more info on the Grand Lodge, click here

Ciara Eloise
Martin - Hudson & Gibson
Interior Designers

William Morris & Co. A Brief History & Glance At The Archive II Prints & Wallpapers

The new Morris & Co. Archive II Print and Wallpaper books arrived today at Martin - Hudson & Gibson! Before we delve right into the books, we'll bring you through a brief history of William Morris (& Co.)

Born in 1834 to an affluent middle class family in North East London, William Morris began studies of theology at Exeter College, Oxford in 1853, but quickly developed a passion for literature, architecture and art and design. After university, he went into fine art and before the age of 23 he was earning the equivalent of €84,000 per annum.

William married model Jane Burden in 1859 and they build a home together ("Red House" in Bexleyheath), decorating it in elaborate medieval style, complete with stained glass windows, tapestries and murals. After two years of building and decorating Red House, Morris took the next step in his career- he founded Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. (a.k.a. "The Firm")- a company set up by "Fine Art Workmen".

Red House, Bexleyheath. 

Almost immediately, Morris began creating wallpaper designs for the new company and with the help of friend Philip Webb he created his first wallpaper, "Trellis" and later introduced the "Daisy" and "Fruit" papers.

 

Trellis Wallpaper- Webb drew the birds as Morris couldn't! 

In 1875 "The Firm" ceased operations and Morris set up a new company, trading by the name of Morris & Co, taking full control. During this time, Morris experimented with traditional dyeing techniques and strengthened as a creative pattern designer by devoting much of his time to creating and perfecting ranges inspired by early 19th Century prints.

In 1881 Morris acquired a disused factory near Wimbledon and it was here that the Hallmark Morris style was perfected- deep reds and indigo tones. 

The Morris & Co. showroom was set up on Oxford Street where they accepted commissions for complete interior decorating schemes and sold furniture, embroidery kits, wallpaper, textiles, ceramic, glass and brass ware to the public. 

Aside from developing and strengthening his textile and paper designing empire, Morris was an acclaimed writer and poet. 

William Morris died at a relatively young age, on October 3rd 1896, having "done more work than most ten men". After his death, the company changed name and ownership several times and lost its market share due to the loss of Morris' creative flair. As a result, in 1940 the company went in to liquidation, at which point Arthur Sanderson & Sons purchased the company and all its assets for a sum of £400.

Thanks to Sanderson, the brand Morris & Co. is still popular and continues to grow today. 

MORRIS & CO. ARCHIVE II PRINTS

The first design we noticed when the books arrived at Martin - Hudson & Gibson was the stand-out "Forest"; one of Morris' most successful compositions and a take on the original "Forest Tapestry" of 1887. The hare and the peacock amongst the flora and fauna have been revised in terms of scale, bringing the design in to the contemporary. The print is available in both velvet and linen.

 

Armchair covered with "Forest" print 2013.

Morris' original "Forest Tapestry" 1887

The print "Love Is Enough" pays homage to the play of the same title (and with the same typeface as on the original play cover) written by William Morris himself in 1872 when he discovered that his wife Jane was having an affair.

The "Lodden" print (pictured below) was designed by Morris between 1882 & 1885 and printed at Merton Abbey. The pattern of foliage and flowers has been faithfully reproduced to maintain the detailing originally seen in the 1880's prints.

Morris' other fabrics from the Archive II prints range are "Bamboo" and "Pink & Rose", both faithfully brought in to the current day but in keeping with their original designs.

MORRIS & CO. ARCHIVE II WALLPAPERS

As we already know, Morris' first ever wallpaper design was "Trellis". His second creation "Daisy" (created in 1862 along with "Pomegranate") was however the first of his wallpapers to be hand block printed (1864) and later became one of "The Firm's" most popular papers. "Daisy" came in a number of colorways and became so popular thanks to the simplistic yet refined pattern, suiting a wide range of customers. 

The original "Daisy" (1862)

Pictured below: The more contemporary "Daisy"- the background of the small scattered tufts of grass have been removed, simplifying the design for today's market.

"Bird & Pomegranate" was the last patterned wallpaper to be issued by Morris & Co. and it is said that it is loosely based on the original design of the "Fruit" wallpaper, but with the addition of decorative birds, the perfect addition to flora and fauna.

"Strawberry Thief", "Chrysanthemum" and "Acanthus" make a reappearance in the Archive II collection with revised colour schemes. Pictured below is "Chrysanthemum", inspired by the national flower of Japan;

 

If you would like to order any of the Morris & Co. Archive II Prints or Wallpapers, please contact the Interior Designers at Martin - Hudson & Gibson of Sandycove, Co. Dublin. We would love to assist you in your selection and can ensure that our fitters, upholsterers and curtain manufacturers meet the high standard that Mr. William Morris himself would have been proud of. 

Ciara Eloise Nolan. 

References:

william-morris.co.uk; pinso.co.uk; thetextileblog.blogspot.ie