Another object for Yasser Mongy and one of my luckiest buys ever. I found this tablecloth designed by Bernard Rice just searching on ebay in an idle moment. It's on linen but I have no idea how it was printed but I assume it dates from the post-war period. You can see the influence of Chinese art, which Rice was very attracted to. And of course the Altamira and Lascaux-effect is there as well. It was the kind of thing they sold at Heal's in London. Perhaps not a great design but interesting all the same. And it is typical of Rice in its quirky sense of adventure.
Rice also made a large linocut called Rammuda in black and crimson on fine cotton. The British Museum acquired their proof (using the Shrimpton and Giles Bequest, which is a nice touch) in 1952 so he probably made it not long before that.
A reader remembers seeing this print, along with Bernard Rice, as a boy. He said it was on silk. But if he has a copy, I would be very interested to see an image! Neither the British Museum nor the V&A have images online but it is illustrated at the back of one of John Buckland Wright's books, which I no longer own.
Another masterpiece of Rice The Great & another fantastic post of Gordon The One!!
ReplyDeleteI think I should iron the cloth and try and to get a better image in the morning. The green isn't right, for a start. It was a bit of a rush job today.
ReplyDeleteThe picture remind me the movie scene of ( Sprit ).
ReplyDeleteI like this pic and blog.
Thanks for sharing.
Bernard Rice: The Unknown Father of Egyptian Printmaking.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/%D9%85-%D9%86-m-n/bernard-rice-the-unknown-father-of-egyptian-printmaking/290160147738269
Hi, Could you please let me know is it possible to buy a book in the UK. I was very fortunate to spend some time with Bernard Rice in 1996 in his studio in Chelsea.I was first year photography student and he was my subject for the documentary project I was doing.I have many rolls of film, wonderful memories of time spent with Bernard. I was very fortunate to see most of his work in his studio, paintings, prints, textiles, personal photographs, postcards and over uncountable cups of thees to hear from the artist,the stories and anecdotes about each peace.I would really love to get a copy of this book. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThe ony book I know of is the one that Yasser Mongy had published this year. It may be in Arabic. I can let you have his e mail. Write to me at cgc@waitrose.com.
ReplyDeleteI was interested to hear about your project. I'd like to include him in my own book if I can. Do you rememeber seeing any prints? He certaionly made some. Let me know.
I remember Bernard talking about this print and saying how disgusted he was that someone had bought it and then cut it up to make curtains.
ReplyDeleteThat's the problem when you start breaking the rules, as Rice did - you must allow that other people will do the same.
ReplyDeleteI wish you would send all you remember about Rice and what he said to me because I could do some more posts and other people would be interested. If you have time contact me at cgc@waitrose.com
I have just come across your site as I was conducting some research on Rice after I came across some linen table napkins in an antique shop (unfortunately only 3 of them not 4).. they match the tablecloth that you have pictured above and have in a dark mustard yellow background with a brown print.....are they a rare item??
ReplyDeleteWell, I would think so, yes, but I really don't know much about them. It sounds from your description that he use different colourways, so perhaps quite a few survived. Who knows?
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing in. All fresh information adds to the picture. I assume you bought them. If so, if you wanted to send photos to cgc@waitrose.com, I would do another post. It may bring in more information. I get more emails etc about Rice than about any other artist.
I have had this table cloth for years and have just pulled it out again. I never took much notice of it ans just happened to see the artists name...which bought me here. Assuming they are not one offs and are prints. Still I would like to know more about it. Please email me g-cowley@hotmail.co.uk
ReplyDelete