is the man who is tall happy ?

is a 2013 french animated documentary film by michel gondry about the linguist , philosopher , and political activist noam chomsky .

is the man who is tall happy ?

is the man who is tall happy ? is michel gondry ' s intellectual spirit quest .
a scene from the documentary “is the man who is tall happy ? , ” with noam chomsky .
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so you might expect a conversation between the filmmaker and the philosopher — which frames gondry ' s extraordinary new animated documentary
is the man who is tall happy ?
— to be unusual .
the film isn ' t a very long one but it is a saturated one , so much thinking on screen . in addition to gondry ' s drawings and some photo collages , the director occasionally sketches out a camera and projects footage of chomsky , as if we will forget this is a film . i don ' t know whether the tall man is happy , but i do know that
is the man who is tall happy ?
is intellectually and visually groundbreaking , and most certainly a film .
yet that’s exactly the key to its appeal : the centerpiece of “is the man who is tall happy ? ” is as much gondry as chomsky ; the contrast between them wryly juxtaposes measured and chaotic introspection . by extension , its real topic is the elusive nature of all thought processes , and it effectively shares the dual speakers’ collective journey without revealing any tangible destination . the movie ends , but the discussion resonates indefinitely .
if you know and appreciate the director ' s work in feature films ,
is the man who is tall ?
serves to illuminate the filmmaker as much as his subject . the idea of ideas is very much at the core of gondry ' s 2006 film
the science of sleep ,
with gael garcía bernal as a man who loses sight of the line between daydreams and reality , and the seminal 2004
eternal sunshine of the spotless mind ,
which examines the implications of a world where disturbing memories can be erased .
a woman is in love with a man in love with another woman , and all three have designs on a young man raised as an ape .
disc # 1 - - is the man who is tall happy ? 1 . opening credits [ 7 : 41 ] 2 . earlier life [ 8 : 57 ] 3 . modern science [ 6 : 02 ] 4 . cognitive endowment [ 9 : 22 ] 5 . house of cards [ 7 : 35 ] 6 . physical changes [ 5 : 57 ] 7 . embarrassing experience [ 6 : 41 ] 8 . irrational beliefs [ 7 : 42 ] 9 . structural analysis [ 9 : 11 ] 10 . test results [ 6 : 42 ] 11 . grim conditions [ 7 : 06 ] 12 . is the man who is tall happy ? [ : 34 ] 13 . ending credits [ 4 : 02 ] 14 . chapter 14 [ 1 : 13 ]
the charles river comment comes from chomsky’s gazing out the window where the two are speaking ( chomsky teaches at the massachusetts institute of technology ) , but otherwise “is the man who is tall happy ? ” feels unmoored in time and space . the animated visuals pinwheel through gaudy abstractions and cartoonish reductions of the ideas being discussed , and some of these are extremely beautiful . the drawings don’t accompany chomsky’s comments so much as try to stay on pace with them , and gondry’s questions skitter over the surface while rarely following his subject down the rabbit hole of logic .
in his introductory remarks , gondry blatantly compares his completed project to “a thorn in the heart , ” but it’s better described as a quasi - sequel to “eternal sunshine , ” as it returns to the unnerving challenge of battling the limitations of thought at every waking moment . both movies elegantly blend gentle wit with melancholy . while “eternal sunshine” certainly has more polish , “is the man who is tall happy ? ” is like its scrappier , exuberant younger brother . as usual for gondry , the experience can be too precious for its own good , as the fanciful elements of its design lead to the impression of flipping through a scrapbook filled with half - formed ideas .
a man entranced by his dreams and imagination is love - struck with a french woman and feels he can show her his world .
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there is a bit of the wistful student in that phrase , and in the texture of the film . wistful , insistent , intellectually discontent . gondry ' s like the kid in the class who keeps pressing the professor to explain and expound . chomsky is by turns patient and exasperated — - not so much at the probing , but when he thinks gondry doesn ' t understand .
probably of interest only to those viewers who , like gondry himself apparently , already have an obsession with chomsky .
the conversation turns personal eventually , with gondry extracting a few details from a man who ' s reluctant to speak about his relationship with his late wife or the things that bring him personal happiness . perhaps the difficulty is that chomsky truly doesn ' t believe he deserves this kind of individual spotlight - - that like the ship of theseus , which is repaired so often it eventually contains none of its original parts , the person we see onscreen is no more special than any in the sea of humans engaged in a history ' s long pursuit of knowledge and justice .
the result is a stop - motion animation that , by their color , dynamic and originality , is quite attractive visually . [ full review in spanish ]
michel gondry merges the worlds of art and science by cleverly animating the innerworkings of noam chomsky’s world - renowned mind . pushing beyond chomsky’s acclaimed theories and opinions , he gives insight into the man behind the legacy . done in hand - drawn animation .
most of the film is framed in 4 : 3 . however , some sequences extend beyond this .
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we are watching two very fascinating , very different minds interact , and the result is a bit inspiring .
on some topics , the pairing works beautifully . unsurprisingly , this is especially true when chomsky makes points by talking of fairy tales and magic transformations . when a child is told a story about a donkey that is turned into a stone by a spell , how does the child instinctively know that the stone is still in essence the donkey , not some unrelated object ? that ' s a question made for gondry ' s surrealism - friendly brain .
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gondry chalks it up in other ways as well . discourse may be driving the narrative , but what we see on screen is a kaleidoscope of images . gondry uses a colorful neon - bright , hand - drawn , pulsating animation style to show us how he is processing the countless words he is hearing . it ' s as if the ideas , rather than gondry , are holding the chalk .
what emerges from the chats and the drawings and the animation is an often - fascinating glimpse at both genius and the creative process ( itself a kind of genius , after all ) . if it sounds boring , it isn ' t . if it sounds weird , it is - but weird in a good way .
near the end , chomsky and gondry get into the specific way in which the structure of language impacts thought — it is what the mit professor has spent a lifetime exploring . it is mesmerizing to see those seven words structured , then restructured , chomsky explaining why we choose to place words where , how meaning shifts accordingly .
filmmakers discuss the tremendous impact of françois truffaut ' s 1966 book hitchcock / truffaut , in which alfred hitchcock painstakingly detailed his directorial process . wes anderson , david fincher , richard linklater , and martin scorsese are among the a - list directors who pay homage to the legendary . . .
one of the pleasures of the movie , though , is that mr . gondry remains acutely tuned into these passages , which he addresses with a startling openness and a lack of directorial ego . this is a movie that celebrates the life of a great mind and makes a case for the mind that knows less but keeps on asking .
the caveat is both unconvincing and unnecessary . if anything , flooding the viewer ' s senses with so much stimulation - - drawings that not only illustrate the topic being discussed , but flash and spiral and decorate this imagery without pause - - presents challenges to digesting dense ideas that aren ' t present in the standard talking - head nonfiction film . ( one wonders what chomsky , who has studied the way brains make sense of the world for so long , would say about this pedagogic strategy . )
imagine that you’re at a dinner party . imagine you start conversing with the man sitting next to you and within minutes realize that he’s far smarter than you’ll ever be — pleasant enough , but talking with him is like falling off the back of a truck and watching it speed into the distance . what do you do ? if you’re michel gondry , you sprint like crazy to keep up while doodling on the tablecloth .
among their topics is the sentence that gives the movie its title and that mr . chomsky has used , by moving one word , to argue that the linguistic information children receive is insufficient to explain how they acquire the grammar of language . “it seems plain , ” mr . chomsky has written , “that language acquisition is based on the child’s discovery of what , from a formal point of view , is a deep and abstract theory — a generative grammar of his language — many of the concepts and principles of which are only remotely related to experience by long and intricate chains of unconscious quasi - inferential steps . ”
a . the director ' s accent is very heavy , while noam mutters more unintelligibly that usual , making it rather hard to understand them .
it is fitting that tension in the film comes from an issue of
understanding ,
gondry sometimes chalking it up to his thick french accent .
throughout , gondry fancifully embroiders on chomsky’s running commentary . intellectual curiosity is personified as a homunculus toting a potted plant with question marks on its leaves , and galileo’s questioning of accepted truths is represented as a stairway of “why’s . ” gondry might present ideas as rebuses , as descartes’ philosophical “tools” are lifted from his treatise , or else embark on his own sentimental flights ; when chomsky first refuses to talk about his late wife , gondry sketches a cartoon man and woman biking across the top of the frame .
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documentary filmmaker jean - paul jaud sets out to discover if contemporary society can create a food supply that isn ' t littered with contaminants by exploring the current trend of organic , localized food production in france . the current generation is the very first . . .
chomsky ' s specialty is linguistics and cognitive science . he ' s in the business of examining language for clues about life . with chomsky ' s help , gondry wants to probe the mit professor ' s studies into the way in which words give shape to our world , defining how we humans feel , think and relate in the broadest sense . but gondry is also interested in the specific — chomsky — and how language , ideas and experiences intersect in his very particular life .
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filmmaker michel gondry is a creative thinker as well , though he ' s more deconstructive in his methods . enthralled by the process of pulling ideas apart , he ' s not content with tipping a single domino , but crashing the entire pile , then setting about to make sense of the jumble .
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cinematic pioneer jean - luc godard redefined film with such masterful features as contempt , breathless and weekend , then began turning out countless experimental works over the following decades . through it all , he demonstrated an ingrained love of the medium . that admiration is . . .
the actress and director both love the genre , but as they told indiewire , they also knew it needed to be retrofitted to tell the true story of catherine weldon and sitting bull .
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in addition to the wide - ranging interviews and the animation , some of gondry ' s observations are written out like chalk on a board as he talks . even that simple act — the writing of words , the way an idea slowly comes into focus as the words are put down — becomes a recurring theme .
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their conversations took place over the course of a couple of years starting in 2010 . gondry set some arbitrary deadlines because , as he so bluntly puts it in the film , he wanted to show the finished work to chomsky before he died . the professor turns 85 in december .
academic and author noam chomsky is a creative but very structural thinker , stringing ideas together like dominoes . one thought progresses to the next , carefully placed with a logic and precision born of years of linguistics analysis shoring up each one .
charlie hebdo is a satirical news magazine published weekly in france ; the magazine has a richly earned reputation for confronting authority in all forms , but in 2006 they generated controversy on a whole new level when they reprinted a dozen . . .
détour follows the story of a young girl ' s tricycle , which gets lost as a french family leaves home for their summer holiday . after becoming accidentally separated from the family , the . . . see full summary »
reveals a comfortable gondry on the film work . [ full review in spanish ]
unusual doesn ' t begin to capture the experience of this most unconventional of films .
writer / director shola lynch follows up her 2004 documentary chisholm ' 72 : unbought and unbossed with this film centered on the struggle of educator and activist angela davis , an outspoken ucla professor whose affiliation with the communist party and the black panthers . . .
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academic noam chomsky and filmmaker michel gondry delve into language and ideas in the groundbreaking film .
enjoyable doc should get a new generation intrigued by the famous thinker ' s career . twitter
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it’s not the only time gondry casts himself as the slapstick naif on the receiving end of chomsky’s genius . elsewhere , he discusses his struggles to complete the project while in post - production on “the green hornet” years back ; as he talks , we see him represented by a giant bug wandering about his living room . it’s a candid admission by implication : while gondry was glued to his work on a commercial spectacle , he was cognizant of its fundamental simplicity in contrast to this deeper side project .
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but not everything fits snugly into gondry’s fairly apolitical worldview . the director gave whimsy a good name in offerings like “be kind rewind” and “the science of sleep , ” and as if acknowledging his shortcomings , he includes examples of his own fractured - english gaffes , and even audio of him interrupting chomsky’s perfectly sane criticism of the french government . gondry dismisses the subject as too depressing , suggesting chomsky instead return to reminiscing about his wife .
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michel gondry directed this animated documentary , which features a number of interviews with renowned linguist noam chomsky . gondry recorded with him over a period of years . the director then used stylized animations in order to help the viewer understand chomsky ' s complicated insights into the creation of language , while also illuminating chomsky ' s ambitious theories .
i would have loved to hear a good film with some narration concerning naom . instead i got a constant annoying projector and misc sounds interrupting what was otherwise a potentially great film . the graphics were amateurish and often pointless . i felt it discounted from his responses more than enhancing them . i didn ' t see the point in the perpetual noise or randomly agitating the viewer with unnecessary sound . i ' m not so schizophrenic i need perpetual noise in order to appreciate an otherwise potentially dry point . not that i even think of naom as dry ! he ' s interesting and all that crud did was detract from his speaking or the ability to focus on it . you ' d think you ' d want to enhance what he is saying but this film does everything but . it just wasn ' t enjoyable . . . . . . . . . .
gondry’s low - tech approach might even be said to expose the artistic limitations of the big - ticket , reality - based cgi that dominates today’s movie screens . equipped with only an old - time oxberry animation stand , a portable lightbox to facilitate frame - by - frame rendering and the same do - it - yourself gear long accessible to students in animation courses , gondry and his frisky hieroglyphs successfully convey chomsky’s concept of language as the fleeting “meanings we impose on fragmentary experience . ”
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filmmakers discuss the tremendous impact of françois truffaut ' s 1966 book hitchcock / truffaut , in which alfred hitchcock . . .
i only wished the well - meaning documentary would have been less cutesy and opened up more doors into chomsky ' s progressive thinking .
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how will it play ? the documentary world premieres as the closing night of doc nyc on november 21 . ifc films releases it in new york and los angeles this friday in addition to making it available on itunes and vod platforms . cross - over appeal to gondry and chomsky fans should result in a solid opening weekend , while vod numbers are likely to remain strong in the coming weeks and months .
michel gondry chronicles the life of gondry family matriarch , his aunt suzette gondry , and her relationship with her son , jean - yves .
eric kohn and anne thompson discuss their favorite films of the year so far . they also debate several new releases and share some streaming recommendations .
in this sociocultural documentary from 2004 , director patrice leconte ( monsieur hire ) weaves an impressionistic , sensorial tapestry of existence in and around early 21st - century cambodia . journeying through the country ' s farmlands , factories , streets and rural villages , camera - in - hand , leconte glimpses the people . . .
when mr . chomsky diagrams the title sentence with a marker to reveal its grammatical structure , mr . gondry makes those words come richly , cogently , to life .
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we learn quite a bit about chomsky’s early years in philadelphia and how studying hebrew with his father set him on a path toward parsing language down to its rudiments . we learn that his atheism doesn’t dissuade him from understanding how religious beliefs weld people into communities . we don’t learn much about chomsky’s relationship with his wife and colleague , carol schatz , whose death in 2008 is still an open wound .
an almost entirely hand - drawn , animated film that was clearly a labor of love for the director and has enough charm to reach a wider audience than his other recent docs .
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some of the film ' s best and most revealing moments see gondry trying to get a slightly wary chomsky to leave his comfort zone of cerebral conjecture and open up about his emotional life .
but viewers likely to be in the audience will have come seeking the very thing gondry seems apologetic about - - not an
objective ,
academic treatment of chomsky ' s thinking on language , religion and popular democratic movements , but an engagement with those ideas that employs gondry ' s peculiar sensibility . we get that , and how : ever - curious , self - deprecating about occasions in which his fumbling english keeps him from making questions clear , gondry works with sweet earnestness to understand his subject and convey that understanding to us .
filmmaker thomas balmes offers an adorable glimpse at the first phase of life in this film following four newborn babies through their first year of life . ponijao , bayar , mari , and hattie were born in namibia , mongolia , japan , and california , respectively . . . .
gondry makes some headway in burrowing behind chomsky ' s mild academic facade : by asking him about his early life , what he does for entertainment , and about his recently deceased wife , we get a sudden glimpse of chomsky - the - human - being ( no doubt entirely trivial ones , if you ' re a signed - up chomskyite ) . but little asides – such as hearing him talk about his parents ' interest in cultural zionism , or his regular jail time when his kids were growing up , or just the fact he and his wife liked to be alone with each other – create an unexpectedly rounded portrait .
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on paper , chomsky and gondry seem like an eternal mismatch , but these two very smart people share an odd but genuine chemistry . . .
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a series of interviews featuring linguist , philosopher and activist noam chomsky done in hand - drawn animation .
two young friends embark on a road trip across france in a vehicle they built themselves .
wealthy , inventive bachelor colin endeavors to find a cure for his lover chloe after she ' s diagnosed with an unusual illness caused by a flower growing in her lungs .
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noam chomsky : totalitarian culture in a free society ( oct . 1 , 1993 )
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after studying under cinematographer ed lachman , shevaun mizrahi forged her own unique filmmaking path with its own set of rules .
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when gondry says he had to do this film with chomsky , you believe him .
french director michel gondry ' s new film documents his interviews with american linguist , philosopher and activist noam chomsky , partly via hand - drawn animations .
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michel gondry doodles while noam chomsky philosophizes in an inspired meeting of idiosyncratic minds .
, new york , oct . 30 , 2013 . ( in doc nyc . ) running time :
( animated documentary — france ) an ifc films ( in u . s . ) release of a sundance selects presentation of a sleeping train production . produced by georges bermann , michel gondry , raffi adlan , julie fong .
directed by michel gondry . camera ( 16mm / hd ) , gondry ; editors , adam w . weber , sophie reine ; sound , brent lestage ; sound editors , gaultier de faultrier , susan goldish ; re - recording mixer , de faultrier ; animators , gondry , valerie pirson , timothee lemoine .
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in this sociocultural documentary from 2004 , director patrice leconte ( monsieur hire ) weaves an impressionistic , sensorial . . .
documentary filmmaker jean - paul jaud sets out to discover if contemporary society can create a food . . .
writer / director shola lynch follows up her 2004 documentary chisholm ' 72 : unbought and unbossed with this . . .
cinematic pioneer jean - luc godard redefined film with such masterful features as contempt , breathless and weekend , . . .
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stevengraphs are pictures woven from silk , originally created by thomas stevens in the 19th century .

they were popular collectable items during the revival of interest in victoriana in the 1960s and 1970s .

stevengraph

a stevengraph , the lady godiva procession , original mount . 2ins x 6ins .
a stevengraph , the struggle , original mount . 2ins x 1 . 5ins .
a stevengraph , the crystal palace , original mount , reframed . 2ins x 6ins .
stevengraph ' the good old days ' 23 . 5 cm x 18 . 5 cm
a victorian stevengraph of ' the death of nelson ' , 6 . 5 x 18cm .
stevengraph of the late earl of beaconsfield , together with oil painting , beaded tray , etc .
a stevengraph , the first point , original mount . 2ins x 6ins . ( stained ) .
a thomas stevens of coventry , woven silk picture , ' the good old days ' , framed , stevengraph .
a silk stevengraph of king edward vii and another of queen alexandra , by thomas stevens , 21 x 16cm .
thomas stevens 19thc framed stevengraph , titled the good old days , depicting a drawn horse carriage . 2 x 6 inches
an early 20th stevengraph , hrh the prince of wales , 12 . 5 x 9cm , in ebonised and gilded frame
a stevengraph , wellington & blucher , meeting after the battle of waterloo , original mount , reframed . 2ins x 7ins .
a stevengraph , dick turpin ' s last ride on his bonnie black bess , original mount . 2ins x 5 . 5ins .
antique thomas stevens / stevengraph
for life or death
heroism on land .
. great antique collectible in original condition .
this is an original stevengraph woven in silk picture of king edward vii . it is a little soiled but is in good condition .
we welcome your application to join the association . as our founder , lew smith , used to say “stevengraph collectors are the nicest people” .
two framed stevengraph portraits ; rt hon w e gladstone m . p and the earl of beaconsfield ( benjamin disraeli ) , framed and glazed , 10 x 6cm
a framed stevengraph of ' the london & york ' royal mail coach from the black swan , holbam . london to the black swan coney street , york , 12cm x 20cm
a cash ' s stevengraph of shire horses , kay calcutt picture ' the shires ' , carol pontin watercolour of shire horses , others prints of shire horses . ( 6 )
rare 1847 stevengraph by thomas stevens of coventry england child’s silk embroidered twinkle twinkle little star book mark . this is signed and an extremely rare thomas coventry child’s nursery rhymes . . .
assorted ephemera relating to st andrews ambulance association , photographs from the gramophone co . , hayes and r . a . lister , dursley , fox hunting stevengraph and other novelty prints etc
a stevengraph
are you ready ?
, 19th century , depicting the oxford and cambridge boat race . 4 . 7 cm x 14 . 5 cm ( see illustration ) .
stevengraph embroidery is a splendid choice to build up any linen and textiles collection . search for the correct era , material , and style from the listed items to find exactly what you need . pick from various materials like silk . ebay listings include many leading brand names that include thomas stevens and j and j cash . you can view previously owned stevengraph embroidery and lower the cost .
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 .
rare 1880 souvenir of the eighth cincinnati industrial exposition silk stevengraph bookmark woven ribbon ~ . may 30 , to be exact . actually , that was the first exposition ever held in the united states . . .
the purpose of this site is to provide a place where stevengraph collectors , or antiques collectors in general , can view a wide variety of thomas stevens products and similar products by other manufacturers . there are about
although stevens book markers were introduced around 1862 , matted stevengraph pictures and portraits were first shown to the general public at the york exhibition on 7th . may 1879 . by the year 1902 , t . . .
stevengraph of elderly tailor and young girl . beautifully woven subject of an elderly tailor and a young girl . the weaving of fancy silk ribbons began in coventry around 1700 , and was a main industry . . .
the word ' stevengraph ' originally referred to the woven bookmarks but now it applies to the woven silk pictures mounted in cardboard mounts . the pieces were most often sold as wall pictures . many of t . . .
this is a lovely antique woven silk bookmark that was made at the 1893 chicago worlds fair columbian exposition . it is in the style of a stevengraph . surprisingly it is from the my bookmark collection . . . .
collection of three framed stevengraph silk pictures : ' the first over ' ( cricket ) , ' the start ' ( horse racing ) , ' called to the rescue ' ( lifeboat / shipwreck ) . ( 3 )
a framed stevengraph silk picture ,
for life or death , heroism on land
, 9 x 16 . 5cm , rev . j c atkinson , british birds eggs and nests , other books and miscellaneous items .
( thomas stevens ) ( 1828 - 1888 ) , was a 19th century weaver from coventry , famous for his invention of the stevengraph , a woven silk picture . thomas stevens was born in foleshill , england just to the no . . .
a stevengraph of ' the late fred archer ' , woven in silk by t . stevens , coventry ; framed and glazed with wood frame , overall dimensions , 21 x 19cmcompare a similar stevengraph in bonhams ( lot 399 / the racing sale / 20 - 7 - 2006 ) where archer is wearing the duke of westminster ' s colours . compare also the v & a example where archer is wearing lord falmouth ' s colours ( v & a . circ . 346 - 1976 ) .
stevengraph
postcard
depicting rms victorian . stevens’ cards are distinguishable from those by grant due to the embossed mount . when mounted it is interesting to display the back to allow viewing of the interesting comments of . . . ( more details )
stevengraph of “rt hon lord r churchill mp” ( stg 59 ) . this is a 5 * rarity in the sprake / darby reference book , there being three variants . the others are stg 59 without spray of flowers ( ( more details )
stevengraph of “rt hon lord r churchill mp” ( stg 59 ) . . this is a 5 * rarity in the sprake / darby reference book , there being three variants . the others are stg 60 with spray of flowers ( ( more details )
( antique stevengraph woven silk bookmark . these are three ( 3 ) very old silk ribbon bookmarks . there is a tear / fraying along the top corner , toning and a dark area on the silk . 3 ) happy new year . howev . . .
stevengraph
postcard
depicting rms saxonia . stevens’ cards are distinguishable from those by grant due to the embossed mount . when framed it is lovely to allow access to the back of the card to allow viewing of the interesting . . . ( more details )
stevengraph
postcard
depicting rms carmania . stevens’ cards are distinguishable from those by grant due to the embossed mount . when framed it is lovely to allow access to the back of the card to allow viewing of the interesting . . . ( more details )
8 x 5 . 5 . stevengraph of “for life or death - heroism on land” ( stg 189 ) one of two fire engine scenes , this being the earlier of the two with the older fire appliance and the four horses . the mount is . . .
* stevengraph . the home stretch , published thomas stevens , coventry and london , [ 1880 or later ] , woven silk picture of an american trotting match , publisher ' s printed mount with some water staining , split at top margin of image , slight spotting affecting the silk , manufacturer ' s printed advertisement to verso , advertisement frayed , image size approximately 50 x 150 mm g . a . godden . stevengraphs and other victorian silk pictures . the scenic stevengraphs , no . 32 plate 112 . an uncommon stevengraph . ( 1 )
stevengraph of “roberts fm” ( stg 49a ) . includes small signature under the cart , and registration number woven in . some variations exist over the leaves and flag , and the registered number . excellent colours with details of & nbsp . . . ; ( more details )
a victorian stevengraph bookmark , woven in coloured silk threads , with birthday wishes , humming birds , sentimental verse and foliage , 24cm long , c . 1880 ; various others , victorian and later , including royal commemoratives , coventry memorial park 1921 , etc ( collection , 21 )
stevengraph
postcard
depicting rms virginian . stevens’ cards are distinguishable from those by grant due to the embossed mount . a lovely example of his work . when framed it is lovely to allow access to the back of the card to allow . . . ( more details )
there are stevengraph collectors all over the world . in 1954 . the stevengraph collectors association was founded by lewis smith in the usa to provide a forum for members to learn more about and exchange information regarding stevengraphs . over the year the association has compiled an informational archive regarding the history , origin , authenticity , availability , and value of stevengraphs . information on joining and a sample newsletter can be obtained by contacting us on this site ( just leave a message on the contact page ) . other information is available on websites run by sca members as follows :
stevengraph of “kitchener of khartoum” ( stg 45 ) . probably taken from a photograph by bassano for
the sphere
in january 1900 . includes the registered number woven in ( 355800 ) . it is on an e1 type mount of leather tex . . . ( more details )
stevengraph of “buller” ( stg 41 ) , one of the eight military portraits produced by thomas stevens . excellent condition , including his name and the registration number woven in ( sometimes not so ) . it is reckoned the image came from a p . . . ( more details )
in more modern times , the stevengraph title started to be applied to all woven silk items no matter when produced , by other victorian silk weavers such as grant , welch & lenton , bollans , etc . , and by 20th century weavers such as brocklehurst - whiston ( bwa ) .
stevengraph entitled
the good old days
. numbered stg 188 this version is a later one , having a pleasant rural scene behind , whereas the earlier version has nothing . excellent colouring of the silk . one of the most popular stevengraphs , th . . . ( more details )
stevengraph of “the present time” ( stg 198 ) . this
express train
exists in two variations , this being the lnwr prince of wales class engine ( 1911 ) , with no driver leaning out of the cab . there are 6 carriages . it . . . ( more details )
a “stevengraph” silk picture by wh grant ( no 1011 ) called “swallow falls , bettws - y - coed” , in postcard form . grant produced many more postcard designs than stevens , dating from about 1902 , and , like all grants , is often ra . . . ( more details )
stevengraph of “hms majestic” ( stg 182 ) , a 4 / 8 * rarity from the warship set of steven’s pictures . it is thought that they were issued and then sold at the naval dockyards , and therefore their popularity would have been focused and of lim . . . ( more details )
stevengraph called
the finish
( stg160 ) . the image is the same as
the struggle
( stg159 ) and superceded it soon after 1879 when the new title was considered more appropriate . although not particularly hard to find , as ever the condit . . . ( more details )
1880s charles stewart parnell , a stevengraph portrait . a portrait of parnell with a spray of shamrock and a maid - of - erin harp , titled ' the late - charles stewart parnell ' to the mount . frame size 8 by 5 . 75in . ( 20 . 3 by 14 . 6cm )
stevengraph of “the present time” ( stg 194 ) . this exists in a number of variations , this being the 2 carriage version with the words “ . . . . 60 miles an hour” omitted . it is excellently coloured , framed in a walnut moulding , with . . . ( more details )
stevengraph
the final spurt
( stg 170 ) . the second of the oxford & cambridge boat race pair , a landscape view of the river thames paired with “are you ready” ( stg 169 ) . three star rarity value ( out of seven ) in th . . . ( more details )
stevengraph of “for life or death - heroism on land” ( stg 189 ) one of two fire engine scenes , this being the earlier of the two with the older fire appliance and the four horses . note the outrider on the fifth horse and the burning building on . . . ( more details )
stevengraph picture of “kenilworth castle” ( stg 125 ) . one of the larger stevens’ pictures at 19 1 / 2
x 12 1 / 2
. made from 1918 onwards , so later than many other stevens’ products . only six castle views were completed , and . . . ( more details )
stevengraph of “ecce homo” ( stg 85 ) . this example of the religious aspect of stevens’ work is extremely rare , being a 6 * rarity in the sprake reference book . the picture , of christ with crown of thorns and a red cloak over his shoulders , . . . ( more details )
stevengraph entitled
the good old days
. numbered stg 187 this version has no rural scene behind that the later ( stg188 ) version exhibits . excellent colouring of the silk , and the mount is clean . one of the most popular stevengraphs , being a ro . . . ( more details )
stevengraph entitled
dick turpin ' s last ride on his bonnie black bess
. numbered stg 149 this version is a later one , the earlier having a poem by eliza cook below the title . excellent colouring of the silk , b mount , and the remains o . . . ( more details )
stevengraph “are you ready” ( stg 169 ) . the first of the oxford & cambridge boat race pair , this landscape view of the river thames is paired with
the final spurt
( stg 170 ) . two star rarity value ( out of seven ) in the s . . . ( more details )
stevengraph entitled
declaration of independence july 4th 1776
( stg 147 ) . the title is woven into the silk bottom left . this comes in a number of forms , with and without the additional information on the mount - woven in pure silk at world ' s c . . . ( more details )
stevengraph entitled
landing of columbus october 12th 1492
( stg 146 ) . the title is woven into the silk bottom left . this comes in a number of forms , with and without the additional information on the mount - woven in pure silk at world ' s colum . . . ( more details )
stevengraph of “mrs cleveland” ( stg 96 ) . she was called the
queen of 60 millions of free people
. born frances folsom , married in 1886 , and husband president of the usa 1885 - 1889 . the portrait shows a spray of violets beneath . it is . . . ( more details )
stevengraph entitled
dick turpin ' s last ride on his bonnie black bess
. numbered stg 149 this version is a later one , the earlier having a poem by eliza cook below the title . excellent colouring of the silk , on a b mount . dated c1879 . fram . . . ( more details )
stevengraph of
the lady godiva procession
, ( stg 150 ) . it rates a one ( out of 7 ) star rarity value within the sprake reference . it is , however , one of the unusual stevengraphs that sometimes omits the trade label on the reverse , instead i . . . ( more details )
stevengraph of
hm stanley
( stg 78 ) . this very rare silk is of the famous explorer who , having been born in wales , went to america in 1859 , serving in the confederate army and then the us navy . he became a writer and traveled the world being be . . . ( more details )
you can choose what you call this unique stevengraph ! the silk is of
the death
( stg 167 ) , but the german title is of
the meet
( stg 164 ) , sammeln . underneath the erroneous title is
in seide gewebt
( woven in silk ) . . . . ( more details )
stevengraph of “marquis of salisbury kg” ( stg 72 ) . one of the series of portraits of politicians , there are three variants , one with no flowers ( stg 71 ) , this one with a spray of red roses ( stg 72 ) , and one with roses that are bright yellow an . . . ( more details )
stevengraph of
rt hon we gladstone mp
( stg 63 ) . this comes in four variants , all according to portrayal of flowers and direction of look . this is stg 63 in the sprake / darby reference . it has a 1 star rarity out of 7 . one of the
politicia . . . ( more details )
stevengraph of
ye lady godiva
, ( stg 151 ) . it rates a 3 ( out of 7 ) star rarity value in the sprake darby reference book . below the title we have the extract from tennyson ' s poem . the silk is in excellent condition , the mount has a slight discol . . . ( more details )
stevengraph of
the late earl of beaconsfield
( stg 52 ) . this title was granted to benjamin disraeli in 1876 . he was prime minister in 1868 and 1874 - 1880 . he died 19 april 1881 . this comes in three variants . stg 52 has a 1 star rarity out of 7 i . . . ( more details )
circa 1888 thomas steven stevengraph silk boxing cabinets complete set of 4 . all stars of the day , charles mitchell , jake kilrain , jem smith and of course john l . sullivan . wear and toning to the mounts from display as intended 125 years ago . the backs fully intact and readable , most importantly , the fragile silks themselves are unblemished and display bold fresh colors . an important early boxing collectible .
a stevengraph ,
the present time
, in original mount with later frame ; together with a brass postal balance with impressed mark
john heath , birmingham
, the pan marked with the contemporary charges of a penny for letters , on walnut stand with complete set of balance weights in fitted recesses , and a van cort
dragonfly
dioptric in dyed laminated birch in protective case . ( 3 ) all in very good condition .
wwi & wwii photos , postcards & other ephemera , inc 2 stevensgraphs . to include wwi battle of the somme postcard set , cover tatty , and other wwi images ; 3 wwii photo sets of belgium & france , including liberation of paris with general de gaulle , parades & battle remains etc . also a book of pictures from the world ' s columbian exposition ( world ' s fair ) , chicago , 1893 , and 2 stevengraph silk pictures ,
peeping tom
&
lady godiva
. { cabinet 8 }
no reserve rugby . - stevengraph pure silk woven picture . - stevens ( thomas ) the first touch , woven silk , in original mount with printed title , 50 x 150 mm . ( 2 x 5 7 / 8 in ) , with lithographed advertisement listing other silk woven pictures from the series mounted on the back , under glass , some surface dirt and browning , [ circa 1880 - 1900 ] ; together with a copy of austin sprake and michael darby ' s ' stevengraphs ' , number 966 of 1000 , the chaucer press , 1968 ( 2 ) .
measuring 5 3 / 8
x 7 1 / 8
, the cabinet pictures a stevengraph image of bare knuckle boxer jem smith . the cabinet itself is worn at the edges and corners , with a large chip of paper missing from the lower left corner of the
mount ,
and yet the silk image of smith is stunning , depicting the boxer in black and white save for a red , white and blue belt and green socks . the reverse of the cabinet , which appears to have sustained some damage over the years , contains extensive biographical information on smith .
measuring 5 3 / 8
x 7 1 / 8
, the cabinet pictures a stevengraph image of bare knuckle boxer jake kilrain . kilrain lost to john l . sullivan in 75 rounds ( ! ) in the last bare knuckle boxing championship in 1889 . the cabinet itself is worn at the edges and corners , with a mark at the lower right , and the silk image of kilrain has what appears to be a fold across the top , and yet the silk image of kilrain is stunning , depicting the boxer in black and white save for a red , white and blue belt . the reverse of the cabinet , which appears to have sustained some water damage over the years , contains extensive biographical information on kilrain .
this is a magnificent piece from france , made in the 1800 ' s and the detail is haunting ~ the faces filled with pain and agony ! the condition is amazing , with one tiny area at the bottom edge that is sl . . .
normal wear is expected . i try very hard to point out any problems .
auctiva ' s free counter . estate find . good condition , considering age . possible fading of silk .
silk tapestry of iridescent white and greys with no fading . fyi : back of silk tapestry has seal
picture dept . joseph horne co . artistic framing
. characteristic marking :
nf
at lower left corner as . . .
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majestic
class of battleships . this stevens silk picture shows one of nine in this class that were built around 1894 . they had twin funnels . hms caeser hms hannibal hms illustrious hms jupiter hms magnificent hms majestic
if you are searching for a particular item , try hitting the ' index ' button for an alphabetical list of all items . all information is both welcome and requested .
please consider selling your collections or single items to us so that we can offer the most complete history of thomas stevens . i was born in coventry and was there when the stevens factory was bombed during the second world war . consequently i have a great personal interest in this bit of history . thanks .
the site is under construction as we go . thanks for visiting . . . . . malcolm
- south kensington exhibition . . .
mr stevens evidently possesses a restless spirit not easily subdued and if the tide threatens to leave him for a time , he digs out a new channel for himself and thus he has created a trade peculiarly his own . i have taken unusual interest in his productions , not only in the goods but in the looms producing them and i find that to make a ' forester ' s scarf ' as exhibited , 2 1 / 2 yards long and 6 1 / 4 inches wide , requires the use of 16 , 000 perforated cards to make the figure which is 15 inches long and for the plain part 14 , 000 cards , making a total of 30 , 000 cards . the number of threads in the warp of each scarf is 1 , 800 and there are 15 different colours in the shutes : the numbers are multiplied by the number of pieces being made at once ; so that if 10 pieces were making , 18 , 000 threads of warp would be in the loom . hence the involved and to the untrained eye , the inextricable confusion of threads , as shown in the harness of the loom
. - aug 8th 1873
- ribbon weaving . - with the decline of the woollen - cloth trade coventry textile workers naturally turned to the nascent silk - ribbon industry . the city silkweavers of the 18th century were ready to receive new ideas from france and to provide the ribbons which fashion dictated , and for a century , between about 1765 and 1857 , silk was the dominant industry in the city .
their complacent belief in the rightness of their methods had , moreover , been fostered for some 60 years by the protection of their main industry against the import of french ribbons . whenever there was a possibility that the prohibition might be lifted or the tariff on imported ribbons reduced there was a protest from coventry , but as long as the prohibition remained there was no incentive to developments in design or the improvement of machinery . by this time coventry was the centre of a weaving area of 13 , 000 looms supporting 30 , 000 people . in 1826 the import prohibition had been lifted and a tariff substituted , and in 1830 the latter stood at 25 per cent .
the introduction of the dutch engine loom , which was not power - driven but on which several plain ribbons could be woven at one time , and its supercession by the jacquard loom , on which several fancy ribbons could be woven , had opened the way for the factory system in coventry . such a change would have increased efficiency and reduced costs , for supervision would have done much to prevent the embezzlement of silk and the leisurely attitude to work which was inherent in the cottage system . but the unwavering opposition of the weavers protracted the struggle between factory and home industry for 30 years and culminated in the near extinction of ribbon weaving in the city .
the crux of the matter was the determination of the small master or the journeyman weaver to work his own loom in his own top - shop , with the help of his family , receiving payment according to an agreed list of prices . it was unpractical for him to buy or lease an engine loom or a jacquard loom , for by a weavers ' agreement neither his wife nor his daughters could work anything but a single - hand loom , and in any case only single - hand looms could be used for certain types of work . the factory , on the other hand , could speed up production by using engine looms or jacquard looms as required , by the division of labour , by the introduction of definite hours of work , and by the supervision of employees . under such conditions a weekly wage could be paid to all weavers .
a vital development was that of the power - run loom , which was to add greater strength to the factory and was to turn the cottage industry in a new direction . by 1836 there were 53 power looms at work in the city , all run by two of the largest manufacturers . it was only in the city that such innovations could be made , and country weavers , like the city top - shop weavers , stuck to the single - hand loom . smaller manufacturers had , however , been increasing in number for the previous 20 years . in 1838 , although there were still twelve manufacturers running over 100 looms each , one with as many as 400 , there were 70 manufacturers running fewer than 10 looms each and 35 with between 10 and 100 each .
if there had been a steady development of factories there is every reason to suppose that the ribbon trade in coventry would have progressed in spite of , or perhaps because of , foreign competition , but the tradition of home working died hard and new enterprises were begun to support the cottage industry . in the new weaving area of hillfields , built up from 1828 onwards , most of the houses had top - shops or workrooms on their upper floors , some with space enough for three looms .
the new suburbs were thus calculated to uphold opposition to the factory system , whose workers were the slum dwellers of the courts recently abandoned by families moving out to the new estates . this attitude was further encouraged by the individuality of the watchmakers , who of necessity had their own workshops , were more highly skilled , and commanded larger incomes . indeed , there is evidence of migration by young weavers and by weavers ' sons to the trade with the better prospects .
while the growth of steam power was speeding up the development of factories , a way was being found to perpetuate the small workshop by means of power - run looms . at first it was a make - do arrangement by which a shafting system was run through a row of existing top - shops , with one engine supplying power to them all . after 1847 this system was extensively used , and by 1859 there were 300 cottage factories running from two to six power looms each , compared with fifteen large factories with 1 , 250 power looms .
workers in cottage factories , however , even with power laid on , could not compete with the larger factories , and they consequently resorted to demands for the reimposition of the list of prices instead of the payment of weekly wages ; so heavy was the pressure brought to bear that five of the six outstanding factory owners gave in after extensive strikes had nearly crippled them , and the building of large factories ceased . instead an attempt was made to give the coventry weaver what he wanted - a properly - developed cottage factory system . two schemes were initiated : cash ' s model cottage factory , built at kingfield in 1857 ; and eli green ' s 67 houses with top - shops , served by power shafting , built to form a triangle in brook street , vernon street , and berry street in 1858 - 9 .
the out - door worker had some justification for supporting the list , but the factory employee , by joining in the strike , was sacrificing his own wage - earning organization for an out - moded system which was impeding efficient development . it was of course the home workers who were worst hit when work was short , because the large manufacturers handed out work to them only when their own employees could not handle it ; moreover , the shafting system for topshops had proved uneconomic when only some of the looms were working . but it was a case of the weavers standing together , however unjustified their cause , against the employers . and because their cause was wrong - headed , because they were striking for the list of prices which some of them had previously struck to destroy , they forfeited local sympathy and little help was forthcoming even from outside the city ; the position became desperate and early in 1861 the strikers had to give in . the list of prices was abandoned , but the damage was done and there was no work to return to .
during the franco - prussian war there was some revival , and it was later alleged that ' every loom in coventry and district was well employed . more business was done then than at any time before or since ' . nevertheless ribbon weaving in coventry had suffered a heavy blow from the attempts of its workers to maintain an outdated system , and the revival did not last .
the industry did not , however , die out . cash ' s survived at the price of converting the model cottage factory into a conventional factory . moreover a bid to bring about a revival in the industry was made by
, the pictorial bookmark , and the illuminated ribbon . he worked quickly , for in january 1862 he patented his invention for ' manufacturing book markers by machinery for weaving ribbons , and . . . producing figures , designs , and mottoes thereon of various descriptions and colours , according to the nature of books for which the markers are intended ' .
the pictures became very popular and they , as well as the looms on which they were made , were exhibited at the crystal palace in 1868 , at the london international exhibition in 1870 , at york in 1879 , and on the continent and in the united states . from 1862 to 1867 stevens ' s catalogues contained from 500 to 900 varieties of bookmarks , pictures , fans , badges , embroidered neckties , and sashes .
partly as a result of the general development in the city of high - class fancy and figured ribbons and scarves , and partly following the introduction of new methods of manufacturing chenille the trade survived . indeed in 1884 london was said to be largely supplied with chenille and other trimmings by coventry which was successfully rivalling continental producers . the number of power looms in 1884 was , however , only about a third of that in 1860 , while the number of operatives employed was even smaller in proportion , though somewhat larger than in 1883 .
in 1890 it was reported that the silk ribbon trade in the town ' fluctuates as fashion dictates , and has been in a depressed condition all the year ' . in the mid 20th century , however , there still existed in the city a flourishing trade in the more specialized aspects of ribbon production . in 1927 there were still some 30 manufacturers with about 7 , 000 employees engaged in the textile industry in coventry , not including the production of artificial fabrics . by 1935 the number of firms had fallen to thirteen and of employees to 5 , 000 .
in 1950 the number of firms had risen slightly . five firms were making woven labels , the best known of these being j . and j . cash , and seven were making regalia and medal ribbons , hat bands , embroidered badges , trimmings , braids and elastic braids , pompoms , tassels , and fringes . they were without exception long - established firms , dating from as far back as 1835 , when william franklin started business in the ribbon trade , or as late as 1919 when oakey and cox began weaving ribbons and hatbands of a specialized kind . in 1964 cash ' s was employing 900 people .
from : ' the city of coventry : crafts and industries : modern industry and trade ' , a history of the county of warwick : volume 8 : the city of coventry and borough of warwick ( 1969 ) , pp . 162 - 89 . url : urltoken date accessed : 04 february 2007 .
we wish to buy stevengraphs . one at a time or collections . we also seek photos , brochures or any item of related history .
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urltoken
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 .
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 early 1990 ' s .
this site has 3 , 215 quality images , arranged in alphabetical catalogues for each weaver , and recording 3 , 174 individual titles . from the links below , you will find that more than 83 % of the stevens bookmark titles now have images and more than 92 % of his picture titles . similarly , two - thirds of the grant bookmark titles now have images , and nearly 83 % of his postcard titles .
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 very scarce .
our knowledge of all the victorian silks though has increased significantly since godden ' s book was published . . . .
in 1999 , the website urltoken was created to replace the books as a definitive record of all the known titles . in 2014 , that web site was completely restructed , and the name changed to this , urltoken site . this web site now contains a comprehensive list and catalogue of all the woven portraits , pictures , bookmarks and silk postcards .
godden recorded approximately 1 , 285 individual titles . by contrast , this web site catalogues a total of 3 , 174 titles across all british weavers , and features quality images for 76 . 8 % of those titles .
this comprehensive catalogue of stevens silks , together with those made by other manufacturers such as bollans , grant and caldicott , is fully supported with scanned images . whilst some areas , such as brocklehurst whiston , are recorded with images of every known woven picture , 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 .
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there are 653 lots that match your search criteria . subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service .
we sell stevengraphs – also grants , neyret , brocklehurst whiston and silk weavings by other manufacturers – including silk woven postcards and bookmarks . browsers are most welcome .
this website only contains a small selection of silk weavings for sale – we have many many more – please contact us if you want a full list or have any special requests .
published in october 2011 , this is the first new book about stevengraphs for 40 years and lists all the known portrait and scenic stevengraphs including many previously unrecorded items . it contains a short biography of thomas stevens written by his great niece in 1960 . 160 pages with 366 colour images . 8×10 inches . available in soft or hard cover versions .
published in 2012 , the first ever book to list all the known weavings made by the grant company . profusely illustrated in colour , it features portraits , scenes , postcards , exhibition weavings , personal family cards , calendars and much more . . 94 pages
published in 2015 – the definitive colour illustrated catalogue of all recorded bookmarks produced by the stevens company . 160 pages with text and index . an invaluable research book . 160 pages
for more details , availability and prices , please send a request via the contact page .
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urltoken
gainst wind & steam
by wh grant & co . godden has much detail relating to grant in his reference book , and this item is referred to on page 447 . this and number 939 are companion silks . 939 is a two funnelled river paddle steamer p . . . ( more details )
the present time - 60 miles an hour
( stg 194 ) . trains were a popular image for stevens as they clearly sold well . these were produced after the york exhibition from mid - august 1879 , a lord howe engine with 2 carriages . this early example is on . . . ( more details )
the present time - 60 miles an hour
( stg 194a ) . trains were a popular image for stevens as they clearly sold well . these were produced after the york exhibition from mid - august 1879 , a lord howe engine with 2 carriages . this early example is o . . . ( more details )
the good old days
( stg187 ) and
the present time
( stg 194 ) with the additional words
. . . . . . of rattling wheels and gallant greys
after the first title . carter had a special relationship with stevens , and was permitt . . . ( more details )
“the first train” ( stg 192 ) . this shows a “rocket” type locomotive drawing a coal car with two and a half open wagons . it is locomotion no 1 . two variants were produced , one with black and bright green wagons , and this one wi . . . ( more details )
the bicentenary of the act of uniformity
. this item is referenced in the godden book on page 335 , and is classified as
. . . objects which are quite rare and little known . . . .
. this design includes the initials
rb
which att . . . ( more details )
full cry
( stg 166 ) is one of the set of three fox hunting stevengraphs . it is quite common , being a 1 * rarity in the sprake darby reference . it was first registered on 24 november 1879 and this one is on a type c3 mount dating it to 1895 - . . . ( more details )
the meet
( stg 165 ) is one of the set of three fox hunting stevengraphs . it is quite common , being a 1 * rarity in the sprake darby reference . it was first registered on 26 january 1880 and this one is on a type c3 mount dating it to 1875 - 1 . . . ( more details )
stg 162
iroquois
owned by p lorrillard esq , and ridden by fred archer , and this detail is on the original mount . as stated in the sprake reference this is a fine picture , and is extremely rare . it is not credited to stevens on the mount and th . . . ( more details )
the start
( stg 157 ) , by thomas stevens . it is one of the
set
of three , the others being
the finish
( stg 160 ) and
the struggle
( stg159 ) although there is
the water jump
( stg 158 ) which is a . . . ( more details )
the first point
( stg 164 ) by thomas stevens , a coursing scene and being the pair to “the slip” ( stg 163 ) . there are two versions of this picture , stg 164a not showing the slipper in red . this , with the slipper , is the later of the . . . ( more details )
the first set
( stg 172 ) . this is a 4 * rarity in the sprake reference . it shows a victorian tennis scene in fashionable attire , full of colour - players through to spectators . the 19 title trade label version is sub - sectioned by . . . ( more details )
the first touch
stg 173 dated 1881 . this is a popular image with the rugby game in the foreground and the spires of coventry in the background . it is a 3 * rarity in the sprake reference , but this does not take account of the popularity which m . . . ( more details )
the late fred archer
( stg 22 ) in the all scarlet colours of mr manton ( pseudonym for the duchess of montrose , women not being permitted to run horses ) . not only is this a 3 * rarity within the sprake / darby reference , but due to the colours it i . . . ( more details )
god speed the plough
stg 168 ( a ) by thomas stevens . this comes in two variants , with and without a flock of birds . it is a 4 * rarity in the sprake / darby reference being the later version without the birds . this is a fine copy , the silk being we . . . ( more details )
the old tyne bridge
( stg 144 ) . this is a 7 * rarity in the sprake darby reference book , and this copy is in immaculate condition . both the mount and the silk are perfect . stevens pictured only three bridges - this , the forth road bridge ( 3 vari . . . ( more details )
silk picture of
ye olde tyne bridge
( godden 1049 ) by wh grant of foleshill . this is an extremely rare picture woven at the newcastle exhibition between 11 may - 29 october 1887 . like stevens , grant took his loom to the exhibitions , selling items . . . ( more details )
“called to the rescue” sub - titled “heroism at sea” ( stg 179 ) , a lifeboat rescue scene . it forms a pair with
for life or death - heroism on land
( fire engine scenes ) . the colour of the crew’s clothing changes . . . ( more details )
ye old crown house
( stg135 ) is a black and white picture of the old tudor building in birmingham . it is quite a rare item being a 4 * rarity in the sprake darby reference . the title is woven into the picture and the mount is a b type ( pre 1888 ) . . . ( more details )
columbus leaving spain
( stg 145 ) dated from 1893 . this very fine silk is mounted in a later mount printed to the same specification as the original c4 mount with the additional credit under the image relating to the columbian exposition . inter . . . ( more details )
“the death of nelson” ( stg 152 ) , a rather busy scene that goes well with “wellington & blucher” ( stg 155 ) . this displays beautiful colours , showing the deck of the victory in 1805 . it is one of the slightly larger stevengraphs , . . . ( more details )
all the stevens combinations ( two or more pictures in the same mount ) are high up the rarity rating in all the reference books . the three now available on the site are triple combinations . they carry no identification for stevens , no printed title and no t . . . ( more details )
all the stevens combinations ( two or more pictures in the same mount ) are high up the rarity rating in all the reference books . the three now available on the site are triple combinations . they carry no identification for stevens , no printed title and no . . . ( more details )
hm queen victoria , jubilee 1837 to 1187
( stg3 ) dated 1837 . this is one of a series of portraits of queen victoria which is testament to their popularity . this one however was probably only available during the jubilee year of 1887 . a more orna . . . ( more details )
her majesty queen victoria
( stg2 ) dated 1837 . this is the second in the series of portraits of queen victoria . within the silk is the sub - title
queen of an empire on which the sun never sets
and on the mount is displayed the crown . . . ( more details )
“charles stewart parnell mp” ( stg no 69 ) dated 1887 . born in ireland in 1846 , he became an mp in 1875 . he was elected chairman of the home rule party in the house of commons , and was given the freedom of dublin . he died in 1891 . this is a very . . . ( more details )
robert burns” ( stg 74 ) . this was the first small portrait stevens produced of a non - political nature . both the sprake / darby and godden references agree that there are two main versions of this image . this has the credit and title below the sil . . . ( more details )
robert burns” ( stg 73 ) . this was the first small portrait stevens produced of a non - political nature . both the sprake / darby and godden references agree that there are two main versions of this image . this has the poem above the portrait with n . . . ( more details )
a present from the international exhibition - edinburgh 1886
woven in the exhibition by wh grant & co . this is similar in detail to the other multiple grants on the site . in godden , page 421 , he refers to this item as having . . . ( more details )
edinburgh international exhibition
( stg - ) shows an aerial view of the exhibition buildings . it was woven at the exhibition which opened on 6 may 1886 when in excess of 40 , 000 people attended . the stevens stand sold these items during the exhib . . . ( more details )
edinburgh exhibition - souvenir
of holyrood palace , woven in the exhibition by wh grant & co . godden has much detail relating to grant in his reference book . this , and the accompanying image of
edinburgh castle
also avail . . . ( more details )
a present from the international exhibition - edinburgh 1886
woven in the exhibition by wh grant & co . this is similar in detail to the other multiple grants on the site , combining some of the silks already detailed . although & nbs . . . ; ( more details )