GUIDE TO THE ANNAN FABRICS ARCHIVE IN THE POWERHOUSE MUSEUM

Transcription

1 GUIDE TO THE ANNAN FABRICS ARCHIVE IN THE POWERHOUSE MUSEUM Prepared by JESSICA McLEAN 007

2 CONTENTS Administrative History Series List Series Descriptions and Item Lists

3 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY Registration Number: 003/96/1 Creator:, a studio enterprise which printed textiles by the silk and screen process, was established in 1941 by Anne Outlaw ( ) and Alexandra Mackenzie ( , she was also known as Nan, but was more commonly referred to as Nance. When Mackenzie married she changed her name to Kirkwood, but still used Mackenzie professionally). The two women had met through the New South Wales Society of Arts and Crafts, of which they were both members. Mackenzie first developed an interest in textile design in the 1930s when she trained at East Sydney Technical College, but she could find no one willing to print her designs. Initially, Outlaw and Mackenzie intended to open a restaurant, but this led to them opening their own textile design studio. Together, the women designed and made furnishing fabrics that melded bright colours, geometric patterns and Australian motifs. Mackenzie created the designs for the fabrics, while Outlaw mixed the dyes and managed the business. The two established their studio in a building in Mosman which had previously been a stable and later a cordial factory. Here they worked on all aspects of silk-screen printing: making screens; mixing dyes; drawing and printing designs; drying fabrics; fixing colours; and soaping and rinsing the final product - around 36 metres of fabric each day. Their customers included interior decorators, select department stores (including David Jones in Sydney and the Myer Emporium in Melbourne) and specialist boutiques. Qantas was also a major customer, while the Department of Public Works commissioned 'Banksia' for the Parliament House dining room (Vivien Leigh also bought 'Banksia' for her home in England). In 1954 secured the sub-contract to print the Aboriginal and heraldic emblems on the official street banners for the Royal Tour. All other work was suspended, but the contract was unpaid for as the contractor declared himself bankrupt. Due to this fact, they could not support their loss and were forced to close. This, however, freed up Mackenzie for a teaching position at East Sydney Technical College. Throughout this latter period, she continued to screen-print textiles and experiment with a range of imported colourfast dyes.

4 SERIES DESCRIPTION Registration Number: 003/96/1 Creators: Dye Recipes Date Range: Physical Characteristics: Description: Cardboard, fabric swatches, two boxes (one cardboard and the other wooden) Dye recipes and fabric swatches (in boxes), used by Alexandra Mackenzie and Anne Outlaw of, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Arrangement: Dimensions: Shelf Length m Box Number: 1

5 ITEM LIST Dye Recipes Item Number Item Title Box 003/96/1-1 Dye recipes, in cardboard box, used by Alexandra Mackenzie and Anne Outlaw of, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, The box features the handwritten label, 'Recipes developed for Annan by C. Gikes'. 003/96/1- Dye recipes, in wooden box, used by Alexandra Mackenzie and Anne Outlaw of, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,

6 SERIES DESCRIPTION Registration Number: 003/96/ Creators: Dye Manuals Date Range: 1950s Physical Characteristics: Books, foolscap folders Description: Dye manuals (6), used by Alexandra Mackenzie, published by Imperial Chemical Industries Limited/ CIBA Ltd/ Farbwerke Hoechst Ag, England/ Germany/ Switzerland, c.1950s These manuals were used by Mackenzie when she taught at the East Sydney Technical College. Each of the six publications include swatches of brightly coloured fabric. Three are protected by hardcover slip cases. Arrangement: Chronological Dimensions: Shelf Length m Box Number:

7 ITEM LIST Dye Manuals Item Number Item Title Box 003/96/-1 Dye manual, titled 'Fast Printed Styles with Alcian Blue 8GS', by Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, printed in England by Henry Blacklock and Co. Ltd., /96/- Dye manual, titled 'Soledon Dyestuffs on Cotton and Linen', by Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, printed in England by Henry Blacklock and Co. Ltd., /96/-3 Dye manual, titled 'Procion Dyestuffs in Textile Printing', by Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, England, /96/-4 Dye manual, titled 'Procion Dyestuffs in Textile Printing: Volume ', by Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, England, /96/-5 Dye manual, titled 'Chlorantine Fast Dyes: On Cotton and Viscose Rayon Yarn', by CIBA Limited, Basle, Switzerland, c.1950s 003/96/-6 Dye manual, titled 'Fast Colour Salt Prints: on Naphtol AS-Impregnations', Farbwerke Hoechst Ag., printed in Germany, c.1950s

8 SERIES DESCRIPTION Registration Number: 003/96/3 Creators: Photographic Prints Date Range: Physical Characteristics: Black and white photographic prints Description: Framed photographic prints (3), black & white, Alexandra Mackenzie and Anne Outlaw of, Max Dupain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Two photographs are portraits of Alexandra Mackenzie, while the third photograph is of Mackenzie and Anne Outlaw. All three photographs were taken by Max Dupain in the studio, which was situated in Mosman. Arrangement: Dimensions: Shelf Length m Box Number: 3

9 ITEM LIST Photographic Prints Item Number Item Title Box 003/96/3-1 Framed photographic print, black & white, Alexandra Mackenzie, Max Dupain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Alexandra Mackenzie, dressed in a white shirt and overalls, at her workbench in the studio. A photographer's label for Max Dupan is attached to the reverse of the frame. 003/96/3- Framed photographic print, black & white, Alexandra Mackenzie, Max Dupain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Alexandra Mackenzie in the studio. 003/96/3-3 Framed photographic print, black & white, Alexandra Mackenzie and Anne Outlaw, Max Dupain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Alexandra Mackenzie and Anne Outlaw sitting before a backdrop of fabric, designed by their textile design company,.

10 SERIES DESCRIPTION Registration Number: 003/96/4 Creators: 'Kangaroo Hunt' Textile Sample Date Range: c.1947 Physical Characteristics: Fabric Description: Textile sample, 'Kangaroo Hunt', designed by Alexandra Mackenzie and screenprinted by, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia, c.1947 The sample is hemmed and has a rust-coloured background with a black and white design of Aboriginal people hunting kangaroos. The words, 'Annan Fabric, Kangaroo Hunt, NK', are hand-printed in ink on the lower left corner. Arrangement: Dimensions: Shelf Length m General m Box Number: F1

11 SERIES DESCRIPTION Registration Number: 003/96/5 Creators: Dylon Dye Pamphlets Date Range: c.1960s Physical Characteristics: Paper Description: Dye pamphlets (), used by Alexandra Mackenzie, published by Dylon, England, c.1960s Both pamphlets include colour photographs and illustrations, and instruct on the use of Dylon dyes. The pages are stapled at the spine. Arrangement: Dimensions: Shelf Length m Box Number:

12 ITEM LIST Dylon Dye Pamphlets Item Number Item Title Box 003/96/5-1 Dye pamphlet, titled 'This wonderful world of colour...', published by Dylon, Sydenham, London, England, c.1960s 003/96/5- Dye pamphlet, titled 'How to Tie and Dye with Dylon', published by Dylon, England, c.1960s

13 SERIES DESCRIPTION Registration Number: 003/96/6 Creators: Video Cassette Date Range: 1993 Physical Characteristics: Video cassette, cardboard case Description: Video cassette, featuring a copy of a Cinesound Review newsreel, 'Unique Factory Prints Fabrics' made early 1940s, copied by the National Film and Sound Archive for Alexandra Mackenzie of Annan Fabrics, Sydney, Australia, 1993 The Panasonic video cassette includes a blue and white adhesive label which reads: 'Mrs Kirkwood, Printed Fabrics, #0039, '. The newsreel is one minute long. Arrangement: Dimensions: Shelf Length m Box Number: