Silk Designs of the Eighteenth Century: In the Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, With a Complete Catalogue

Rating:
Summary: A feast for the eyes
Review: This book is a very good resource for the study of 18th century fabric design, especially of English (Spitalfields) silks. The introduction outlines the change of tastes through the century, two chapters give backround information on the formation of the design collection at the V&A and the biographies of the designers, and the rest is just plates, plates, plates. Wonderful plates! Not just pictures of fabrics, mind you, but of the original watercolours - and their artistic quality, on top of the inventiveness they exhibit, make me go green with envy.