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 .
we accept uk bank cheques, us bank cheques (no additional charge), postal orders, money orders – credit cards only through paypal .
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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 )
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 . 
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.
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.