These vintage tapestries by the Scottish tapestry artist, Maureen Hodge (b. 1941) do not come up on the market very often. This one dates to the 1960s so it is an early piece by her.
We have owned this one for many years now - and it has been carefully packed away.
Dimensions: Height: 122 / 130 cm. The width of the tapestry is 138 / 140 cm
In excellent condition with no damages / no holes or fading. An interesting historical work by this important textile artist.
We purchased it back in 2010 from the Decorative Arts - Design from 1860 Sale at Lyon and Turnbull on Wednesday 10th November. It was Lot 337. It still retains its L&T auction ticket on it.
A great archive piece relating to the development of the Scottish Tapestry craft in the late 20th century. It dates to around 1960s and shows an abstracted townscape with sailing ships on a river in the foreground, poplar trees and a town in mid distance - and an abstract and rather wild looking sky to the top of the composition. Is that a "ghost ship" in the clouds?
It is woven with muted tones of beige, white, grey, mustard and ochre wool - popular shades in their day! I have taken lots of images for your interest - both of the front and the "casting off" area on the back.
SHORT BIOGRAPHY: Maureen Hodge was born in Perth in 1941 and studied stained glass and tapestry at Edinburgh College of Art from 1959-64. She then worked at the Edinburgh Tapestry Company (now the Dovecot Tapestry Studio) from 1964 to the early 70s, and was Interim Director of Weaving with Fiona Mathison in 1975.
In the 1960s Edinburgh Tapestry Company / the Dovecot Studio, was a commercial weaving studio set up by the Earl of Bute to weave tapestries for his castle and it later becoming known for working with many contemporary international artists. It now has a gallery space and studios at Infirmary Street in Edinburgh.
Hodge wove tapestries designed by Archie Brennan, David Hockney, Harold Cohen and Sir Eduardo Paolozzi among others. She lectured in tapestry at Edinburgh College of Art from 1967, taking over as Head of the department in 1973 and later becoming a Reader of Heriot Watt University and Senior Lecturer in the School of Drawing & Painting in 1994, posts she held until her retirement in 2006.
She is included in many public collections in the UK and abroad, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, Jean Lurcat Centre for Contemporary Tapestry, Angers, France and the Ararat Regional Art Gallery in Victoria, Australia. Commissioners of her work include the Scottish Parliament, Crawford Arts Centre in St Andrews and the British Crafts Centre.
Sadly, for UK posting only due to its size and weight.