Lot 359
ASHLEY HAVINDEN (1903–1973) §
ART DECO CARPET, CIRCA 1930
Auction: 19 April 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
hand-knotted wool, bears applied label verso
Dimensions
245cm x 152cm
Footnote
Note: Ashley Havinden was a painter, typographer, graphic and textile designer. In 1922, when he joined W.S. Crawford – one of London’s largest advertising agencies – he had not received any formal art training. He subsequently took evening classes in design and drawing at Central School of Arts & Crafts (1922-23) and received private drawing lessons from Henry Moore in 1933. The London Gallery held Havinden’s first solo exhibition in 1937. Two years later he was one of the nine British artists to feature in an exhibition of abstract paintings held at the Lefevre Gallery. He remained with W.S. Crawford for forty-five years becoming art director in 1929 and vice-chairman in 1960. During this time, Havinden was given full freedom to develop his distinctive style, working on campaigns for Martini, Liberty’s and Chrysler, amongst others. Meanwhile, he produced rug and textile designs for Duncan Miller Ltd and Edinburgh Weavers. For the V&A’s 1946 exhibition Britain Can Make It, he designed the Men’s Wear displays, as well as the exhibition catalogue cover. Havinden received an OBE for his services to British Design in 1951.