Mosman Art Gallery: Australian Accent: the Designs of Annan Fabrics and Vande Pottery of the '40s and '50s

Australian Accent: the Designs of Annan Fabrics and Vande Pottery of the '40s and '50s

Saturday 4 September – Sunday 10 October 2010

This exhibition showcases two Mosman businesses that featured distinctive Australian designs using native flora, fauna and Aboriginal motifs.

It includes examples of the bold silk screen prints produced by Annan Fabrics, popular as modern furnishings for the international and domestic marketplace and the quirky handcrafted ceramic pieces by Vande Pottery produced for the thriving tourism scene of the 1950s.

A 36 page catalogue (pictured) accompanies the exhibition. It has proven very popular with visitors and design students who have been flocking to the Gallery for a copy. At $8.00 (or $5.00 for the Friends of the Mosman Gallery) it is affordable as well as informative and fully illustrated.

Annan Fabrics & Vande Pottery: a photo gallery

Nance Mackenzie and Anne Outlaw hanging fabric; photo taken by Pix Magazine, c1940s (Collection: Powerhouse Museum, Sydney)
Anne Outlaw mixing the dyes, c1940s (Collection: Powerhouse Museum, Sydney)
Anne Outlaw making dye, c1940s (Collection: Powerhouse Museum, Sydney)
Nance Mackenzie tracing designs (Collection: Powerhouse Museum, Sydney)
Nance Mackenzie and Anne Outlaw screen printing fabric, 1944 (Collection: Powerhouse Museum, Sydney)
Textile length, cotton, ‘Banana’ made by Annan Fabrics, c1945 (Gift of Mrs Alexandra Kirkwood, Collection: Powerhouse Museum, Photographer unknown )
Curtain, ‘Kangaroo Hunt’ screenprinted cotton, made by Annan Fabrics c1947 (Gift of Dr Ian Parkin, Collection: Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Photographer unknown)
Café curtain, ‘Emu Track’ screen printed cotton made by Annan Fabrics, c1950s (Gift of Mrs Dorothy Nicholas, Collection : Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Photo Sotha Bourn)
Textile sample ‘Emu’, linen, designed by Annan Fabrics, c1940s (Gift of Gloria and Arthur Bishop, collection: Powerhouse Museum, Photo Sotha Bourn)
Wall plaque, mimis & lizards; 42.5 × 20 cm; Vande SL (Private Collection) – photo by Larry Irvin
Foot ashtray; 11cm x 7.5cm; Vande SL (Mosman Library Local Studies Collection) – photo by Larry Irvin
Plate Spirit man fishing 15.5cm; Stamped Vande Signed Mx Marlene Adams (Private Collection) – photo by Larry Irvin
Wall plaque, Sydney Harbour Bridge; 42.5 × 20cm (Stamped Vande Signed AMP) – photo by Larry Irvin