The Bedford Park Society's Annual Lecture - Sanderson Since 1860

Mary Schoeser to give visual tour of company's contribution to interior design

Mary Schoeser

August 19, 2024

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This year’s Bedford Park Society annual lecture will mark Sanderson’s recent move back to Chiswick, where it was located from 1879 – 1928

The talk by Mary Schoeser MA, FRSA on Tuesday 17 September will offer a visual tour of the company’s contribution to innovation in the wallpaper and textile industry. Its links with Bedford Park were reinforced with the launch of a new range of wallpaper and fabrics — the Bedford Park collection — coinciding with the company's return to W4.

Mary Schoeser is an archivist, curator and historian, specialising in the decorative arts. She is an internationally respected author and leading textiles authority.

She has written around 200 diverse books, chapters and magazine articles. These include Textiles: A concise history (2003, revised 2022), Silk (2007), Textiles: The art of mankind (2012 and 2013) and The Art of Wallpaper: Morris & Co in context (2022 and 2024). She also authored and curated the 2010 book and exhibition, Sanderson: the essence of English decoration that celebrated the company’s 150th birthday.

Predominantly a freelance historian since 1991, Mary was Archivist for Warner & Sons and archive consultant to numerous firms including Laura Ashley, Liberty, Orla Keily and Sanderson. Her extensive knowledge of British manufacturers and understanding of textile and wallpaper production has facilitated restoration work with English Heritage, the National Trust and other historic property owners and also informed 44 curatorial projects, including an exhibition planned for the Fashion & Textile Museum (March 2025). Her extensive academic experience includes a part-time research position at Central Saint Martins (2000-2011) and an honorary research role at the V&A since 2016. She is Patron of the Bernat Klein Foundation and of the School of Textiles, Coggeshall.

During the lecture you’ll meet the Sanderson family, see how they initiated new approaches to design, production and marketing, and their role in saving other important firms, including Morris & Co. C F A Voysey will also feature, as well as the international reach of Sanderson — from early Disney wallpapers to a Picasso-designed cloth.

The event is being held at Arts Educational Schools, 14 Bath Road, Chiswick (W4 1LY) and starts at 8pm with bar open from 7.00pm.

Tickets cost £15 plus booking fee if bought online and The Bedford Park Society has released a limited number for sale to non-members but these are expected to sell quickly so you are advised to place your order quickly. Tickets can also be purchased from Postmark on Turnham Green Terrace.

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