Edinburgh Weavers

• Reference:GB 2610 GMA A69
• Dates of Creation:1950s - 1960s
• Physical Description:
  2 boxes; 12 fabric rolls (1.5 + 2 x racking shelves of textiles (i.e. 4 linear metres)

• Scope and Content

  Textile lengths, sample books, photographs; printed material (2 boxes; 12 fabric rolls). The archive is divided into four sections:

  /1. Textile lengths, photographs; printed material

  /2. Photographs

  /3. Edinburgh Weavers: printed material - brochures, catalogues, sample cards

  /4. Newscuttings, booklet; exhibition catalogue; historical notes by Jake Nicholson

• Administrative / Biographical History

  In the 1920s the textile firm Morton Sundour established an experimental design unit called Edinburgh Weavers. Alastair Morton was the initiator and artistic director of the firm from the 1930s until his death in 1963. A textile designer himself, Morton also commissioned leading artists to create patterns for textiles, particularly focusing on abstract design. In 1937 he launched the 'Constructivist Fabrics' range, which included artist-designed textiles by Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, Eileen Holding, Ashley Havinden and Winifred Dacre. Edinburgh Weavers also made textiles for a more traditional market and were often commissioned by architects to design fabrics for specific interiors.

• Access Information

  The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Archives and Special Collections are open Monday - Friday, 10.00 - 1.00 and 2.00 - 4.30 by appointment only. Please contact Modern2ReadingRoom@nationalgalleries.org to arrange a time to visit. As we are a small team, we request that you get in touch 1 – 2 weeks before you intend to visit so that we can check availability.

• Conditions Governing Use

  All material is subject to copyright restrictions. Requests to reproduce original material should be made to the National Galleries of Scotland’s Image Licensing team (https://www.nationalgalleries.org/copyright-image-licensing)

• Custodial History

  Presented by Jake Nicholson 2003; with subsequent additions by Mrs Shirley Nicholson 2004 and 2006

• Related Material

  The SNGMA Collection holds work by Alastair Morton; see also GMA A39 Ashley Havinden Archive