Sanderson Design Group has donated 25 beautiful fabric tablecloths to St Michael & All Angels Church to celebrate the return of its headquarters to Voysey House in Chiswick. The Sanderson fabrics were trimmed and finished by Interiors of Chiswick and the fabric was displayed on Green Days weekend and at other events during the Bedford Park Festival (photos below, click to zoom in)
The Festival included a panel session: ‘Homecoming: Sanderson, Voysey & Chiswick’ with Sanderson executives, held in the refurbished Voysey House (70 people were there with a waiting list of over 67!). They heard about the company’s history, designs and archive; its future plans and ongoing relationship with the C.F.A. Voysey Society – and the launch of its ‘Bedford Park’ collection of fabrics.
You can hear a recording below – click the arrow.
The session was introduced by Torin Douglas, director of the Chiswick Book Festival, and the panellists are listed below.
In 1879 Arthur Sanderson opened his wallpaper factory in Barley Mow Passage. In 1902 Voysey House (picture, below right, click to zoom in) was added, designed by the acclaimed architect Charles Voysey, a Bedford Park resident. The family donated their home in Duke’s Avenue to the people of Chiswick to be the public library to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee.
Read more about Voysey and the building on the Chiswick Timeline: A History in Art and Maps.
Read more about Arthur Sanderson, Chiswick Library and ‘Alain-Fournier, The Great Gatsby and a party in Chiswick’ on the Chiswick Timeline of Writers and Books.
Lisa Montague, Chief Executive Officer, Sanderson Design Group
Lisa joined the Group in March 2019 as an Executive Director and became Chief Executive Officer on 10 April 2019. Her significant experience of leading and developing brand-based businesses with integrated manufacturing and multi-channel distribution includes previous roles at Madrid-based brand Loewe SA, a Spanish luxury fashion house owned by the LVMH Group, Aspinal of London Group Ltd and Mulberry Group plc. Lisa is a Trustee of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), which supports the training and education of talented, aspiring craftspeople, and a Non-Executive Director of The Royal Mint.
Claire Vallis, Design Director, Sanderson Design Group
Claire’s creative direction covers all brands in the portfolio, including Sanderson, Harlequin, Morris & Co., Zoffany, Scion and Clarke & Clarke. Starting out 30 years ago as a designer at Anstey wallpaper factory, Claire then moved to lead the Harlequin studio, establishing it as a leader in wallpaper and fabric design. Claire’s work now sees her championing all brand studios, making them relevant for today’s discerning global audience.
Dr Catherine Sidwell is a Design Historian with over 15 years’ international experience as a Curator, Exhibitions and Projects Manager, for the V&A, Museum of Richmond and the National Trust, and Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. On returning to the UK, as Senior Manager for Exhibitions, she developed the exhibition First Emperor at the British Museum.
Catherine is a founding member of the C.F.A. Voysey Society, a Trustee and Events Secretary. In 2023, she graduated with PhD from Kingston University, as part of the Modern Interiors Research Centre. Senior Archivist for Sanderson Design Group from April 2022-December 2023. (She first saw photos of Voysey House in an architecture course at Brighton University aged 19 – and is thrilled to see how the building has been brought back to life as the new home of Sanderson Design Group!)
Claudia Suckling is Chief Executive Director of The William Morris Society.
