Thomas Stevens,
| Stevens Silk Pictures | |
| Stevens Silk Portraits | |
| Stevens Silk Bookmarks | |
| Stevens Silk Postcards | |
| Stevens Souvenir Silks |
Grant
| Grant Silk Pictures | |
| Grant Silk Portraits | |
| Grant Silk Bookmarks, Ribbons and Lapel Pins | |
| Grant Silk Postcards | |
| Grant Rosettes & Other Silk Items |
Other weavers:-
Bradbury, Greatorex Beall
R. S. Cox & Co.
G. Holme.
Alice and Samuel Kilmer.
Lister, Harris & Co.
J. Matthews.
Mellor Bros.
Morgan & Scott Ltd.
Mulloney & Johnson.
Charles Newsome.
John Rogers.
Thomas Skillcock.
Henry Slingsby.
James Wilde & Son.
E. Wilson.
STEVENGRAPH as a title was invented by Thomas Stevens and first appears on the backing label for his bookmarks in 1876. Today it is assumed the Stevengraph title applies only to his woven silk pictures. As these however did not appear until 1879, it is evident Stevens intended the title to include his silk bookmarks, silk portraits and silk postcards too.
The title Stevengraphs later became loosely applied to all the silks of this period produced by other weavers such as Grant, Dalton & Barton, Welch & Lenton etc..
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 silk 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 Stevengraph Collectors, Antiques dealers and anyone interested generally in Stevengraph silks can identify them, and gain an awareness and understanding of all the Victorian silks woven in England.
| CONTENTS:- | |
 | ITEMS FOR SALE (new CD and antique silks) (last updated 5 December 2004) |
| STEVENGRAPH (last updated 16 November 2008) |
| GRANTS (last updated 1 November 2008) |
| OTHER WEAVERS (last updated 15 November 2008) |
| WHAT'S NEW SINCE LAST UPDATE (last updated 16 November 2008) |
| Useful Links, including Stevengraph Collectors Association |
| Diamond Registration Mark |
| Bibliography (last updated 16 November 2008) |
| How to contact VictorianSilk.com |
The purpose of this site . . . .
The only information relating to Stevengraphs and other Victorian silks was in books published between the late 1950's and early 1970's, and these have long ceased to be available, other than as scarce collectors items.
The most comprehensive of these books was Geoffrey Godden's Stevengraphs and other Victorian silk pictures, published in 1971. The book itself is now very scarce, although a faithful reproduction of this book has been put onto a CD and is available exclusively through this web site.
Our knowledge of all the Victorian silks has increased beyond Godden, and this web site now replaces all the books as the definitive list and catalogue of Stevengraph silk portraits, silk pictures, silk bookmarks and silk postcards.
This comprehensive catalogue of Stevens silks, together with those silks made by other manufacturers such as W.H. Grant and Brocklehurst Whiston, is also supported by scanned images of the silks. There are nevertheless previously unrecorded silks yet to be catalogued successfully, and this site will inherently grow with contributions from a number of different sources.
