www.Stevengraph-Silks.com
{est: 1999 as www.victoriansilk.com}
 
Welcome to the Stevengraph-Silks.com web site, the place where all known silk bookmarks, pictures and silk postcards manufactured since 1862 are recorded

   

   

   

   

"Stevengraph" as a title was invented by Thomas Stevens and first appears on the backing paper for his bookmarks in 1876. He called his factory "The Stevengraph Works", and later referred to his woven silk pictures in the same way when they first appeared in 1879. It is evident Stevens intended this title to include all his bookmarks, pictures, portraits and silk postcards too.

In the late 1800's, the silk ribbon weavers of Coventry, England, were experiencing very difficult trading conditions due to changing fashions and cheap imports from abroad. Several weavers had already diversified into related activities, and Thomas Stevens was one of these, with his Stevengraphs.

In more modern times, the Stevengraph title (sometimes referred to as Stevensgraph) started to be applied to all woven silk items produced by other Victorian silk weavers such as Grant, Welch & Lenton, Bollans, and J & J Cash etc., and by 20th Century weavers such as Brocklehurst-Whiston (BWA).

The objective of this web site is to be an educational resource where Collectors and anyone interested generally in Stevengraphs can identify them, and gain an awareness and understanding of all the silks woven in England from Victorian times up to the present day.

This site contains 6,372 quality images, arranged in alphabetical catalogues for each weaver. There is recorded 52 named weavers, with a total of 5,604 individual titles.

 
CONTENTS:-
STEVENGRAPHS by Thomas Stevens (last updated 24 October 2023)
W.H. GRANT (last updated 24 October 2023)
J. & J. CASH (last updated 24 October 2023)
OTHER WEAVERS (last updated 24 October 2023)
WHAT'S NEW SINCE LAST UPDATE (last updated 24 October 2023)
ARTICLES from magazines, newspapers etc: (see full list)
»
Alice Lynes pamphlet: THE COVENTRY WEAVERS who made silk ribbon pictures could scarcely have imagined how eagerly their products would be sought after today . . . {continue reading}  
»
The Saturday Book: ON THE TENTH of February, 1860, Mr Gladstone anounced details of the Cobden Treaty in the House of Commons, one clause of which . . . {continue reading}  
»
Antique Dealer and Collectors Guide: THE WEAVING OF FANCY silk ribbons began in Coventry around 1700 and almost came to an abrupt end in 1860 . . . {continue reading}  
Bibliography (last updated 24 October 2023)

The purpose of this site . . . .
Apart from recent self published single topic picture books, the only information relating to Stevengraphs and other silk weavings was in books published between the late 1950's and 1978, and these have long ceased to be available, other than as collectors items.

The most comprehensive of these books was Geoffrey Godden's Stevengraphs and other Victorian silk pictures, published in 1971, although the book itself is now scarce.

Our knowledge of all the Victorian silks though has increased significantly since Godden's book was published, and this site now contains a comprehensive, up to date list and catalogue of all woven stevengraphs.

Godden recorded approximately 1,200 individual titles. By contrast, this site catalogues a total of 5,604 titles across all British weavers, and features quality images for 89.7% of those titles.

This comprehensive catalogue of Stevens silks, together with those made by other manufacturers such as J & J Cash, Welch & Lenton, Bollans, and Caldicott etc., are fully supported with scanned images. Some areas, such as Brocklehurst Whiston and Cartwright & Sheldon, have images of every known woven picture, whilst in other areas there are nevertheless previously unrecorded silks yet to be catalogued successfully. This site will hence inherently grow, both as new titles are discovered, and with contributions of images from YOU, the viewer and user of this site.
 


 
 
 
advertisement:
 
Stevengraph Collectors Association advertisement
 
 
 
 
THE
STEVENGRAPH
COLLECTORS
ASSOCIATION
 
The purpose of the Association is to provide a forum for memebers to learn more about Stevengraphs and to exchange information about them.
 
The SCA publishes a quarterly newsletter, " SCA NEWS " which contains information on rare finds, prices achieved at recent sales, items of interest, member activities and information regarding a wide range of silk weavers.
 
Members are also encouraged to contact officers if they have any specific questions about Stevengraphs.
 
The size of each collection varies widely. You might only own one or two Stevengraphs; or maybe you have a collection of more than 100 designs. Perhaps you only collect woven silk postcards or maybe just the colourful bookmarks. You are sure however to find something of interest in each edition of the SCA NEWS.
 
There is no joining fee, although there is a modest annual fee.
 
Sample newsletters are sent for free, so to receive your sample, or for more information, please click on this link, and complete the enquiry form on the Stevengraph Collectors Association web site:-
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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This site was created on 1 February 2000
This site was last updated on 24 October 2023

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