Hello,
like many others worldwide I too collect ladies scarves, I found the
graphics on many of the scarves fascinating but also found it very difficult
to find information on the subject, no doubt many of you have been in the
same situation. I then decided to to research the subject by visiting
libraries, archives, silk mills and manufacturers both here in the U.K.
and also abroad in such places as China, France and Italy. I eventually
amassed files full of 'scarf' information dating back to the 1920/30s era.
As the
research progressed word spread and I was asked to appear in
TV slots such as the BBC
Antiques Road Show, Collectors Lot
and also some magazine articles. As a result I was inundated with requests
for information regarding scarves. Condition is important when purchasing
scarves, mint condition scarves will always fetch a higher price, many
of the older vintage scarves do come with usage wear which is too be
expected when one considers the age of the scarf, don't bypass a rarer scarf
if it is only slightly damaged as it may never come your way again.
Unravelled edges can be re-stitched, holes will devalue of course but
bargaining power is a must in cases such as this. The price of scarves can
vary depending on ones location, London will always be more expensive as
will other major cities as will buying from specialist dealers whereas
smaller provincial towns turn up some rare and exciting scarves.
Silk
scarves will always be the top of the list for some collectors but having
said that many of the rarer vintage scarves were made from rayon and other
fabrics particularly during
WW2 1939-45 era
due to the fact that the use of silk was prohibited as the war progressed as
it was used to manufacture parachutes and escape maps for the armed forces.
Better
quality silk scarves tend to have a hand rolled edge but not always as I
have come across some very interesting and rare quality older vintage
scarves with a non-rolled edge. Don't overlook the travel souvenir souvenir
scarves many of which ware non silk, these scarves were sold in more or less
every tourist spot imaginable including Paris, Rome and Venice which were
the most popular destinations in the post war era. a few years ago it was
quite easy to find souvenir scarves from around the globe but not so today
as many of the better quality and more interesting varieties are now in
private collections so snap them up while you can.
Many
of the scarves featured on the website come under the heading of 'cross
collectable' which means that the collector is up against competition from
other collectors who collect memorabilia relating to airlines, the royals,
perfumes, ships and cars just to name a few subjects. Some collectors prefer
to collect a particular brand of scarf such as
Liberty, Hermes etc.,
some prefer silk whether signed or not. I love them all silk or otherwise
and collect across a wide field from the top of the range designer scarves
to the more affordable souvenir scarves. the choice is yours as to what to
collect.
Do be
careful when purchasing the high end of the market i.e. couture names such
as Hermes, Chanel etc., as there are a very high number of fakes out there,
check for authenticity and take great care when buying over the internet as
pictures can often deceive. There are excellent specialist scarf sellers out
there who offer a quality service and who only sell the genuine article. It
is also worth noting that apart from the well known high street brands of
scarves there are also various smaller outlets and individual designers who
produce wonderful high quality scarves which are quite often made in limited
quantities which are too good to miss out on. As these scarves are made in
limited quantities they will of course become more difficult to find as time
goes by.
LIBERTY SCARF SHOW -
A great event in the
SCARF calendar was in 1987 when Liberty along with the Crafts council held
THE SCARF SHOW
in London,
similar scarves from my own collection with the same graphics as those
featured in the show will be included on the following pages.
The following books are
available on-line
The Scarf - Andrew
Baseman - ISBN 1-55670-061-X - Stewart, Tabori & Chang.
HERMES SCARF - HISTORY &
MYSTIQUE - ISBN 0500515182 - Thames & Hudson
click on pictures to enlarge
from
my own collection was made by the renowned British company BECKFORD
SILK in conjunction with Patrick Herons' exhibition of his work at the
TATE GALLERY
- London in 1998. Beckford Silk are famous for their wonderful
'commissioned' scarves that they have been producing for many
years for various famous establishments such as The National
Trust, Royal Opera House, Royal Academy of Arts, American Embassy,
Hampton Court, Stonehenge, Egyptian Museum and Buckingham Palace to
name just a few. The Beckford silk premises are open to the public, scarves
and other silk products can be seen on site and also via their most
interesting website. A visit to this fine establishment is highly
recommended, groups are catered for, why not have a day out and watch the
scarves actually being printed on site, browse the delightful shop, relax
and enjoy a snack in the friendly cafe. I have always been a keen fan
of Beckford scarves and am always happy to support British Industry
especially those who produce such high quality goods as Beckford silk. More
Beckford Silk scarves feature on
page 11.
http://www.beckfordsilk.com
Maryse CASOL
- the superb high quality silk scarves shown on this web site are designed
by the French fashion designer and contemporary artist Maryse Casol,
made in Lyon, France by Bianchini-Ferier who are famous for their luxurious
silks since 1880. Bianchini-Ferier are textile designers for some of the
most sought after exclusive haute couture fashion names that grace the
catwalks. The graphics on the Casol collection of scarves are
absolutely stunning as are the colours, very exotic and very collectable,
this is contemporary artwork at its best and a must not only to wear
but to collect also, don't miss out on this fantastic collection. For
further info., please contact the Maryse Casol direct.
http://www.marysecasol.com
TASARAM
MAP SCARVES - A
fine British company who produce high quality but very affordable silk map
scarves with wonderful clear graphics, if you like to collect travel scarves
this modern version is a must, ideal for anyone who likes to specialise in
travel souvenir scarves. Apart from the map scarves a delightful selection
of Asian Art
Scarves
can also be purchased on line, click on the link for more details of
the various map locations and art scarves available. As these scarves
are in mint condition they will of course hold their value in the long term.
http://mapscarves.com
JACQMAR
- RICHARD
ALLAN
- Please go to
Page 1 for more
information on these two famous names and view some of the highly
collectable scarves designed by Arnold Lever, his super
designs are a
wonderful reminder of the WW2 era and give an
insight into the dark years of war when he managed to import a sense
of humour into many of his designs which was greatly needed at that time.
RENNIES
SEASIDE MODERN - 20th Century British Design.
Karen & Paul are
specialists in 20th century art and design and renowned for their
fantastic selection of rare vintage scarves and have been in business for
many years and now work from their premises in Folkestone, Kent, England.
Anyone buying
vintage
scarves from this reputable establishment is guaranteed to receive the
genuine article and a quality service from people who really know what scarf
collecting is all about. Some of the scarves that they have for sale are
extremely rare and highly sought after and not available elsewhere. Their
web site is a treasure trove of various 20th century collectables such as
posters, furniture, ceramics and more, click on the link to browse the shop
or better still why not pay a visit, a must for the serious scarf collector.
www.rennart.co.uk
SCARF CLIPS
- A nice collectable which is still in its infancy and still fairly
affordable although prices are rising for the older more unusual designs,
the older vintage scarf clips depict many different subjects such as floral,
animals, faux stones, cameos, insects, boats, heart shapes and petit
point, many were made in West Germany which is a good clue to age, those
stamped Germany are pre 1939, some of the most collectable are French.
the clip on the back is a good clue to age. The butterscotch coloured
vintage clip featured here is French, very collectable and very hard to
find. Check out those car boot sales, fairs and antique malls before prices
really start to rocket.
