British Pathe

Osterley, Middlesex and Kidderminster, Hereford and Worcestershire.

M/S of a woman turning back antique Moslem prayer rugs. C/U of the rugs showing the patterns. Narrator explains how the modern carpet has evolved from these rugs. In a room designed by the great architect Robert Adam at Osterley...

Osterley, Middlesex and Kidderminster, Hereford and Worcestershire.

M/S of a woman turning back antique Moslem prayer rugs. C/U of the rugs showing the patterns. Narrator explains how the modern carpet has evolved from these rugs. In a room designed by the great architect Robert Adam at Osterley Park House there is an ornate carpet. A museum attendant shows a visitor how the design of the carpet (made by Adam by Thomas Moore) is picked out in other parts of the room - even the ceiling. Various shots of carpet, chair coverings, wall hangings and the ceiling.

Narrator explains how Western culture has broadened the scope of British carpet design. "Simplicity, daring use of colour and line, these are the keynotes of contemporary style." he states. M/S of a designer painting motifs on squared paper. C/U of him loading his brush with paint. C/U of his face as he concentrates on his work. He takes the design over to a set of drawers full of wool samples to select the correct colours. C/U of him pulling out little tufts of wool.

M/S of a woman working at a drawing board counting the coloured squares of a design - each square represents one tuft of wool. C/U of her electronic pen as she taps each square presumably registering how much wool is needed for each colour - painstaking work. L/S of the industrial weaving machines or looms. Various shots of them weaving a piece of carpet.

Domestic interior - a contemporary carpet with a simple design - white boxes on a red background. A woman walks into the room and switches a light on. Narrator mentions how the clean designs of contemporary carpets ally themselves with the simplicity and originality of modern furniture. She sits and flicks through a magazine. Another lounge room is shown with another woman sitting on a comfy chair reading a magazine. She stands up and moves her chair up to meet a half sofa - a "modern" design. She sits on the sofa with her legs up. Narrator observes how the black of the settee is strikingly effective and fashionable against the severe lines of the carpet. C/Us of the carpet.

M/S of a secretary in an office or showroom - nice simplistic furniture and a "modern" carpet. A dining room setting features another modern carpet.

Note: nice shots to illustrate furniture and textiles of the mid 1950s.