Date: 17/07/2018
Following its official opening on Saturday 3rd July for friends, benefactors and members of the Kidderminster community, the Museum of Carpet’s second annual Summer Exhibition is open to the public.
The viewing of ‘Journey to Japan’ exhibition was celebrated with an introduction by katagami expert Mamiko Markham and was officially opened by David Adam of Adam Carpets. The exhibition features stunning ink paintings and beautiful hand-cut textile stencils from nineteenth century Japan.
It charts the voyage of Kidderminster carpet manufacturer Michael Tomkinson, who travelled to Japan after the country opened its borders in 1854. He was fascinated by the culture he found there and collected extensively, opening a Japanese Museum in the grounds of Franche Hall upon his return.
The ink paintings and stencils he amassed now belong to the Museum of Carpet archive, constituting one of the largest collections of its kind in the country. They are displayed alongside contemporary and historical Japanese-inspired carpet designs by local manufacturers such as Brintons to highlight the marked influence of foreign style and the impact it had on local business.
‘Journey to Japan’ is on at the Museum of Carpet from 3
rd July-29
th September 2018.
To find out more about the exhibition and associated events, please visit
https://museumofcarpet.org/