DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1398#0113
PLATE 136.
SILK AND WOOL CURTAINS,
BY MESSES. J. & J. S. TEMPLETON, GLASGOW.
TN no branch of the industrial arts has greater progress been made in this country, of late
-*- years, than in textile fabrics. Some years since it would have been hopeless to seek for
such beautiful designs so finely executed as these curtain-hangings contributed by the Messrs.
Templeton & Co. to the Exhibition. Until lately, almost all hangings (muslin curtains, and those
of continental make excepted) were plain cloths, with a diaper or damask pattern throughout, or,
if bordered, the border was woven separately and attached by sewing. These curtains of the Messrs.
Templeton are formed of a complete design woven in one piece. Not only do the borders thus
become part and parcel of the composition; but the ornament at the bottom is so arranged as to
form a base from which the main design springs. A curtain so treated is an admirable subject
for the application of decorative art, and, as these examples prove, is capable of very effective
treatment. The curtains are woven in pieces as wide as 7 feet 6 inches, and of any length:
when greater widths are required, two curtains, with a border dropped from one side, can be
woven, so as to be sewn together, without injury to the original design.
This firm, which contributed so many and such beautiful hangings, put to actual use in the
Water-colour gallery, was arbitrarily placed in Class 22 (Carpets), in which it obtained honourable
mention, but received no notice for the remaining and most important portion of its contribution.
The Messrs. Houldsworth, of Manchester, who exhibited curtains of the same material, viz.,
mixed silk and wool, were put into Class 20 (Silk and Velvet), and only obtained honourable
mention,—an injustice which the Jury, in their official report, admit, and seek to palliate. The
actual review of this class of goods, however, is to be found in Class 21, under the head of
"Woollen Damasks, Reps, Mohair, Velvet and woven Furniture-hangings ; but we look in vain for
the name of Messrs. Templeton.
It is a fact to be regretted, that the Jury reports, as a rule, are of a most unsatisfactory
and incomplete nature, arising, we conceive, from three causes: firstly, that too great a number
of classes were apportioned off to each deputy-commissioner, making it, in fact, an impossibility
that lie could properly get through his work and attend on several Juries, all occupied at the
same time, in different parts of the building; secondly, that the deputy-commissioners in many
cases, selected by the authorities for accompanying the Juries, and giving them the information
which as strangers they must necessarily have required, were as ignorant as the Juries themselves
as to the nature and position of the various exhibits which required inspection. In some few
cases the superintendents of classes acted as deputy-commissioners; and this is certainly the
course which should have been adopted towards all the superintendents; the neglect of which
was an act of injustice and a mistake as well; for who but the superintendent knew at that
early period of the Exhibition the contents of the classes under his charge ? It would be
invidious to point out names, but it is an undeniable fact that some deputy-commissioners were
not only ignorant of the whereabouts of the objects to which it was their duty to direct the
attention of the Jury, but were in no way fitted by previous studies for their posts; the
consequence of which was, that they came to the superintendents for information in the per-
formance of their task. Thirdly, we cannot but believe that the reporter of every Jury should
have been rewarded in some special manner for his time and information. Had this been the
case, the Royal Commissioners could have required the reports to be prepared by a certain
fixed period; but as they were made gratuitously, the Commissioners naturally felt they
could not impose any terms as to their production; the consequence of which was, that so
late as the mouth of April, 1863, several important reports were still unpublished, or not published
separately.
We admit that, after the excellent reports on the Exhibitions of 1851 and 1855, it was
comparatively unnecessary to enter into details : still statistical information of a valuable nature
might have been given, and a more complete resume made of the actual state of each manufacture.
SILK AND WOOL CURTAINS,
BY MESSES. J. & J. S. TEMPLETON, GLASGOW.
TN no branch of the industrial arts has greater progress been made in this country, of late
-*- years, than in textile fabrics. Some years since it would have been hopeless to seek for
such beautiful designs so finely executed as these curtain-hangings contributed by the Messrs.
Templeton & Co. to the Exhibition. Until lately, almost all hangings (muslin curtains, and those
of continental make excepted) were plain cloths, with a diaper or damask pattern throughout, or,
if bordered, the border was woven separately and attached by sewing. These curtains of the Messrs.
Templeton are formed of a complete design woven in one piece. Not only do the borders thus
become part and parcel of the composition; but the ornament at the bottom is so arranged as to
form a base from which the main design springs. A curtain so treated is an admirable subject
for the application of decorative art, and, as these examples prove, is capable of very effective
treatment. The curtains are woven in pieces as wide as 7 feet 6 inches, and of any length:
when greater widths are required, two curtains, with a border dropped from one side, can be
woven, so as to be sewn together, without injury to the original design.
This firm, which contributed so many and such beautiful hangings, put to actual use in the
Water-colour gallery, was arbitrarily placed in Class 22 (Carpets), in which it obtained honourable
mention, but received no notice for the remaining and most important portion of its contribution.
The Messrs. Houldsworth, of Manchester, who exhibited curtains of the same material, viz.,
mixed silk and wool, were put into Class 20 (Silk and Velvet), and only obtained honourable
mention,—an injustice which the Jury, in their official report, admit, and seek to palliate. The
actual review of this class of goods, however, is to be found in Class 21, under the head of
"Woollen Damasks, Reps, Mohair, Velvet and woven Furniture-hangings ; but we look in vain for
the name of Messrs. Templeton.
It is a fact to be regretted, that the Jury reports, as a rule, are of a most unsatisfactory
and incomplete nature, arising, we conceive, from three causes: firstly, that too great a number
of classes were apportioned off to each deputy-commissioner, making it, in fact, an impossibility
that lie could properly get through his work and attend on several Juries, all occupied at the
same time, in different parts of the building; secondly, that the deputy-commissioners in many
cases, selected by the authorities for accompanying the Juries, and giving them the information
which as strangers they must necessarily have required, were as ignorant as the Juries themselves
as to the nature and position of the various exhibits which required inspection. In some few
cases the superintendents of classes acted as deputy-commissioners; and this is certainly the
course which should have been adopted towards all the superintendents; the neglect of which
was an act of injustice and a mistake as well; for who but the superintendent knew at that
early period of the Exhibition the contents of the classes under his charge ? It would be
invidious to point out names, but it is an undeniable fact that some deputy-commissioners were
not only ignorant of the whereabouts of the objects to which it was their duty to direct the
attention of the Jury, but were in no way fitted by previous studies for their posts; the
consequence of which was, that they came to the superintendents for information in the per-
formance of their task. Thirdly, we cannot but believe that the reporter of every Jury should
have been rewarded in some special manner for his time and information. Had this been the
case, the Royal Commissioners could have required the reports to be prepared by a certain
fixed period; but as they were made gratuitously, the Commissioners naturally felt they
could not impose any terms as to their production; the consequence of which was, that so
late as the mouth of April, 1863, several important reports were still unpublished, or not published
separately.
We admit that, after the excellent reports on the Exhibitions of 1851 and 1855, it was
comparatively unnecessary to enter into details : still statistical information of a valuable nature
might have been given, and a more complete resume made of the actual state of each manufacture.