Antique French textiles dealer,
When I graduated in Textiles
from Central School of Art in 1976, I started designing my own fabrics. But in my early thirties, when my children were young, I began dealing in antique textiles and children’s antiques – small chairs, little sets of china – to fit around my life better. Now, I’ve been dealing for over 30 years – it’s become a lifestyle. It’s who I am and what I do, from Monday to Saturday.
I’ve always loved English chintzes and French toiles
and would often visit the V&A to look at their historic collection of fabrics. I like the way the designs meander across fabrics, and to catch my attention they have to be beautifully drawn too. The vegetable dyes they used create more subtle colours and give the fabrics greater depth.
Most of my fabrics date from the late 18th to the early 19th centuries
and I "nd my stock in the south of France. I’ve built up a good network of suppliers there, but I still go on hunting trips from time to time. I keep them in a showroom at home, displayed in an old baker’s rack and a French cupboard.
I’ve been exhibiting at the Decorative Fair for over 15 years
– it’s a very friendly fair and it’s nice to see my regular customers. I take around 30 cushions that I make myself, plus quilts, mouchoirs [handkerchiefs], lampshades and pieces of fabric, plus a few early 20th- century French toys.
These old fabrics bring warmth and a layer of classic style to a room, providing so# pools of colour and pattern. The texture is di $erent too. Handwoven or woven on old looms, it feels more alive – you can feel someone’s fingers on it. katharinepole.com