Textile sample, 'Kangaroo Hunt', designed by Alexandra Mackenzie and screenprinted by Annan Fabrics, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia, c.1947
The Australian textile designers, Nance Kirkwood and Anne Outlaw, designed and screen-printed this fabric sample in 1947. Called 'Kangaroo Hunt', it illustrates a group of Aboriginal men hunting kangaroos and reflects the fashion for bold, Australian inspired designs. Operating as Annan Fabrics, Kirkwood and Outlaw specialised in textiles that appealed to architects and designers with an interest in Australian furnishings. 'Kangaroo Hunt' was one of the most popular designs in the Annan range and, like most Annan work, featured three vibrant colours and a striking, linear pattern. This sample remained in Kirkwood's possession until her death in 1998 when it was sent to the National Art School and then bequeathed to the Powerhouse Museum.
Kirkwood first developed an interest in textile design in the 1930s when she trained at East Sydney Technical College, specialising in drawing, printing and general design. In 1941, her interest evolved into a successful career when she established the textile design company, Annan Fabrics, with friend and business partner, Anne Outlaw. Together, the women designed and made furnishing fabrics that melded bright colours, geometric patterns and Australian motifs.
At their Mosman studio (a former stable and cordial factory), Kirkwood and Outlaw worked on all aspects of silk-screen printing: making screens; mixing dyes; drawing and printing designs; drying fabrics; fixing colours; and soaping and rinsing the final product - around 36 metres of fabric each day. Their skill and craftsmanship characterised their work, which appealed to interior decorators, select department stores (including David Jones in Sydney and the Myer Emporium in Melbourne) and specialist boutiques.
In 1954, an unpaid contract forced Annan Fabrics to a sudden end, freeing Kirkwood for a teaching position at East Sydney Technical College. Throughout this latter period, she continued to screen-print textiles and experiment with a range of imported colourfast dyes.
Nance Kirkwood, partner in Annan Fabrics, designed this screenprinted textile sample in around 1947. Called 'Kangaroo Hunt', it depicts Aboriginal men hunting kangaroos and combines bold colours with strong forms. This was one of the most popular fabrics in the Annan range, capturing a current fashion for Australian-inspired designs.
This sample was screenprinted by Sydney textile designers, Nance Kirkwood and Anne Mackenzie, at their Mosman studio in around 1947. Operating as 'Annan Fabrics', the pair worked on all aspects of silk-screen printing: making screens; mixing dyes; drawing and printing designs; drying fabrics; fixing colours; and soaping and rinsing the final product - around 36 metres of fabric each day.
The textile design, 'Kangaroo Hunt', was designed by Sydney company, Annan Fabrics, in 1947. This textile sample, which illustrates the design, was screenprinted in 1947 or soon after.
The hand-written notes on this textile sample, 'Annan Fabric, Kangaroo Hunt, NK', imply that Nance Kirkwood kept this piece as an example of one of her most popular designs.
This collection belonged to Sydney textile designer, Nance Kirkwood (Mackenzie), who partnered the textile design company, Annan Fabrics, in Sydney from 1941 to 1954. The material remained in Kirkwood's possession until her death in 1998 when her executor, John Ulm, sent it to the National Art School (formerly East Sydney Technical College) where Kirkwood taught in the late 1950s. In turn, the school passed this material on to the Powerhouse Museum which has significant collections of textiles and archives relating to Annan Fabrics.