Curtain
Textile length
Maker & role
Nance Mackenzie, Designer; Annan Fabrics (estab. 1941, closed 1954), Manufacturer
Production date
circa 1948
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Object detail
Title
'Banksia' design
Production place
Measurements
1 - Curtain, L: 130 x W: 124cm (L: 1300 x W: 1240mm); 2 - Textile length, L: 135 x W: 90cm (L: 1350 x W: 900mm); 3 - Textile length, L: 135 x W: 42cm (L: 1350 x W: 420mm)
Credit line
Gift, The Morris family, 2020
Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Description
A curtain (with curtain hooks) and two unused textile lengths of the late-1940s furnishing textile design, 'Banksia', made by Annan Fabrics of Mosman NSW. This is one of two Annan Fabrics textile designs donated to the Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection and originally used in the one house in Canberra ACT. The designs, ‘Banksia’ and ‘Goannas’, were created by Nance Mackenzie who with business partner Anne Outlaw operated Annan Fabrics between 1941 and 1954. The two women screen-printed their own high quality textiles, many of which were notable for their large, bold, colourful interpretations of Australian flora and fauna. In a speech to members of the Wollongong Workers Education Association, Mackenzie said 'we in Australia have the most interesting subject material in the world for designs. Our birds, flowers and animals are unique and designs based on them would be new overseas.'
The 'Banksia' design was famously purchased by English actress Vivien Leigh in 1948 on an Australian tour with her then husband Laurence Olivier; the design was also made up into curtains for the dining room at Parliament House in Canberra.
The 'Banksia' design was famously purchased by English actress Vivien Leigh in 1948 on an Australian tour with her then husband Laurence Olivier; the design was also made up into curtains for the dining room at Parliament House in Canberra.
Accession number
L2020/9-1:3
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