Four lengths of 18th century English blue silk damask

Spitalfields, circa 1740 - 1755

Woven with a design of flowers and curling leaves in the manner of Anna Maria Garthwaite. The silk may be compared with several designs by Garthwaite in the collection of the V & A, such as acc. no. 5989:18 (and with damasks woven to these designs, acc. no T.346A-1975), as well as with the silk used for a banyan, acc. no T.92-2003; and with silks made up as dresses in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, acc. no. 1994.406a–c, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, acc. no. 50.494. A single panel in dark green, of similar design and size, was sold as part of the Getty collection at Christie’s New York in October 2022.

Three lengths at the full width of 22", two 41" long and one 40" long, and one half width, also 41" long. With minor areas of discolouration, one length with stitch marks.