LIBERTY & CO SILK. ~ Liberty Fabrics sample book, G2: Shanghai Silk.
Small Liberty & Co sampe book of 6 x 12 cms. The book has samples of 64 different colours of G2 Shanghai silks which were priced 4/11 a yard net (written in ink). Each sample bears a small sticker with the colour number on it. In light brown printed cloth with the spine at the top.
The V & A has examples of Liberty silks dated to 1914 and the Westminster Archives hold a sales brochure for them which they date to c.1923.
Arthur Liberty founded the business in 1875 first calling it ‘East India House’ where he solely sold Oriental imports - rugs, decorative objects and fabrics. By the turn of the 20th century demand had grown enormously and demand for Liberty’s sumptuous fabrics became so strong that Liberty decided to import undyed fabrics and have them dyed and printed in England. These samples were from a time in the 1920s when Liberty had flowered as a brand and was internationally famous for its creativity in fashion and design.