This extraordinary set of ten needlework wall hangings depicting views of the Trossachs, Perthshire, were designed by Alexander Fisher (1864-1936) and executed by the Royal School of Needlework for Fanhams Hall, Ware. They are signed and dated 1907. Alexander Fisher was the leading enameller of the Arts and Crafts period in Britain, who revived the ancient art of ‘Limoges’ enamelling, as well as being an extremely versatile designer, painter and sculptor.
He originally trained as a silversmith and began studying enamelling after attending a series of lectures given by Louis Dalpayrat in Paris. Fisher was also a very influential teacher who taught at the Central School of Arts and Crafts before setting up a school of enamelling at his Kensington studio in 1904. His work was widely published at the time in periodicals such as ‘The Studio’ and ‘The Art Journal’ and he regularly exhibited at the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society and the Royal Academy. Some of Fisher’s works today form part of the permanent exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Musem, Jewellry Gallery.
Fanhams Hall, Ware, Hertfordshire, a vast Queen Anne mansion built in 1715 was purchased in 1859 by Henry Page of Ware, who had made a sizeable fortune in the malting business. His daughter Anne, who later married Richard Benyon Croft, inherited Fanhams Hall and in 1900 grandly enlarged the house in the Jacobean style employing some of the most renowned designers and craftsmen of her time. She is said to have demanded the highest quality of craftsmanship throughout and spared no expense and as a result left the building enhanced with walnut panelling inlaid with mother of pearl, intricate oak panelling, a Minstrel Gallery, tiled fireplaces, all now of special architectural interest.
The designs for the house incorporated a Long Gallery as its grand entrance, for which the Trossachs Tapestries were specially designed. They were commissioned from Alexander Fisher in 1907 and were to complement stained glass windows by William Morris. Several ‘Rose Tree’ panels, which served as curtains were also designed by Fisher, and two of these are now in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The Trossachs not far from Edinburgh, Scotland, recently designated Trossachs National Park, have long been renowned for their rich variety of wild and beautiful scenery, ranging from high mountain peaks to peaceful wooded slopes, and have inspired many artists and writers like Sir Walter Scott.
