Hildegard Heygate's collection of textiles
The personal textile collection of the late Hildegard Heygate, injecting a surge of joyful pattern and design into Sworders fine interiors sales in December and the first Homes and Interiors sale of 2024.
Image: A Fante Asafo flag, early 20th century, Ghanaian, cotton appliqué on cotton, depicting a hunter, an elephant and a hyena on a pink ground, with a Union Jack, and a striped and tasselled border, 104 x 157cm. Provenance: The Hildegard Heygate Textiles Collection.Image above: A large Asante cotton kente cloth, mid-20th century, Ghanaian, woven in blue with stripes and float motifs on an off-white ground, 610 x 90cm/ Provenance: The Hildegard Heygate Textiles Collection.
Hildegard Heygate's collection includes pieces so varied it is difficult to know what Hildegard’s specific areas of interest were, from African flags, Indian appliqué, and indigo-dyed lengths, to ikat, damask and tartar cloths, and Uzbek silk embroidery from Samarkand and Tashkent. Eager to make the most of this collection, she opened the doors to her Wickham Market house in her later years, sharing her knowledge of textiles and restoration techniques to the U3A textile group, where they would communally learn about textiles and use pieces in her wonderful collection as reference points.
Image: A silk ikat panel, 20th century, Central Asian, Uzbekistan, woven with bold pink stylised medallions on an off-white ground, on a cotton backing, 125 x 130cm. Provenance: The Hildegard Heygate Textiles Collection.
Fine quality vintage and antique textiles in good condition are becoming harder to find at auction, so Hildegard’s carefully assembled collection, created with passion and love over many decades, offers a unique opportunity to acquire fresh-to-the-market pieces while it’s still possible.
Image: A Samarkand suzani prayer hanging. A Samarkand suzani prayer hanging, 20th century, Central Asian, Uzbekistan, the wide border embroidered in red silks with large flower heads on a cream calico ground, interspersed with black silk tendrils and heart garlands, 220 x 160cm. Provenance: The Hildegard Heygate Textiles Collection.
Find out more:
www.sworder.co.uk
Image: A Fante Asafo flag, early 20th century, Ghanaian, cotton appliqué on cotton, depicting a hunter, an elephant and a hyena on a pink ground, with a Union Jack, and a striped and tasselled border, 104 x 157cm. Provenance: The Hildegard Heygate Textiles Collection.Image above: A large Asante cotton kente cloth, mid-20th century, Ghanaian, woven in blue with stripes and float motifs on an off-white ground, 610 x 90cm/ Provenance: The Hildegard Heygate Textiles Collection.
Hildegard Heygate's collection includes pieces so varied it is difficult to know what Hildegard’s specific areas of interest were, from African flags, Indian appliqué, and indigo-dyed lengths, to ikat, damask and tartar cloths, and Uzbek silk embroidery from Samarkand and Tashkent. Eager to make the most of this collection, she opened the doors to her Wickham Market house in her later years, sharing her knowledge of textiles and restoration techniques to the U3A textile group, where they would communally learn about textiles and use pieces in her wonderful collection as reference points.
Image: A silk ikat panel, 20th century, Central Asian, Uzbekistan, woven with bold pink stylised medallions on an off-white ground, on a cotton backing, 125 x 130cm. Provenance: The Hildegard Heygate Textiles Collection.
Fine quality vintage and antique textiles in good condition are becoming harder to find at auction, so Hildegard’s carefully assembled collection, created with passion and love over many decades, offers a unique opportunity to acquire fresh-to-the-market pieces while it’s still possible.
Image: A Samarkand suzani prayer hanging. A Samarkand suzani prayer hanging, 20th century, Central Asian, Uzbekistan, the wide border embroidered in red silks with large flower heads on a cream calico ground, interspersed with black silk tendrils and heart garlands, 220 x 160cm. Provenance: The Hildegard Heygate Textiles Collection.
Find out more:
www.sworder.co.uk