A study of designers in the Lyon silk industry 1712-1787
Until recently, research on the silk industry in 18th century Lyon has centred round the organisation of the silk weaving guild and of business enterprise, the lives of a few well-known and well-documented individual silk designers who were fine artists in their own right, the stylistic development of silk design and the analysis of the weaves and techniques of production of surviving fabrics. No general survey or analysis of the social and economic function of designers and their role within the industry has been made since E. Leroudier's introductory article 'Les dessinateurs de la Soierie lyonnaise au XVIIIe sibcle', Revue d'Histoire de Lyon (1908, pp. 241-266). This thesis sets out to question Leroudier's presentation. It attempts to reconcile the different approaches mentioned above in order to clarify designers' place in lyonnais manufacturing and society and to establish a clearer idea of the distinctive features of design practice in Lyon. It, therefore, reassesses currently held views on the number and role of silk designers, and the influence and special characteristics of wellknown individuals. It starts from the premise that designers were not purely artists but were also involved in industry.
Miller, Lesley Ellis
Silk industry in 18c. Lyon
A study of designers in the Lyon silk industry 1712-1787. Until recently, research on the silk industry in 18th century Lyon has centred round the organisation of the silk weaving guild and of business enterprise, the lives of a few well-known and well-documented individual silk designers who were fine artists in their own right, the stylistic development of silk design and the analysis of the weaves and techniques of production of surviving fabrics. No general survey or analysis of the social and economic function of designers and their role within the industry has been made since E. Leroudier's introductory article 'Les dessinateurs de la Soierie lyonnaise au XVIIIe sibcle', Revue d'Histoire de Lyon (1908, pp. 241-266). This thesis sets out to question Leroudier's presentation. It attempts to reconcile the different approaches mentioned above in order to clarify designers' place in lyonnais manufacturing and society and to establish a clearer idea of the distinctive features of design practice in Lyon. It, therefore, reassesses currently held views on the number and role of silk designers, and the influence and special characteristics of wellknown individuals. It starts from the premise that designers were not purely artists but were also involved in industry.
study designer silk industry recently silk industry centre round organisation silk weave guild business enterprise live well_known well_documented individual silk designer fine artist right stylistic_development silk design analysis weave technique production survive fabric general_survey analysis social_economic function designer role_within industry make since introductory article set question presentation attempt_reconcile different_approach mention order_clarify designer place manufacturing society establish clear idea distinctive_feature design practice therefore reassess currently hold_view number role silk designer influence special characteristic individual start_premise designer purely artist also_involve industry