Japanese lady holding a fan

In the 1920s, wallpaper designs inspired by a romantic view of the Orient became popular. Japanese ladies carrying parasols or fans were a common motif. They were frequently printed in brilliant colours such as jade green, purple, orange and midnight blue. This design is by Winifred Mold, one of a handful of female designers who worked for the Silver Studio in the 1920s and 30s. It is not fully finished, suggesting that it was a ‘work in progress’ rather than a finished design.