Henri Matisse (French, 1869-1954) Echarpe (Head Scarf) Silk twill screen-printed in blue, 1947, with the artist's printed signature in the screen, numbered 6/275 in blue ink, manufactured by Ascher Ltd., London, unframed Overall 915 x 915mm (36 x 36in) Footnotes: During the war, head scarves which were decorative, had become enormously popular. Excited by this trend, Ascher initially revived nineteenth-century block-prints designs, floral patterns and peasant motifs in bold new colours and, fired with his usual flair and enthusiasm for a fresh project, was soon adding work commissioned to contemporary artists and designers to the range. [..] Exclusive arrangements were made with certain artists, and their designs were printed as yard-age as well as squares. The generously sized scarves of silk and rayon, usually about thirty-six inches square were screen-printed by hand at the Aschers' own printworks. Although recent advances in this relatively new technique offered greater scope for the accurate reproduction of fine lines and the texture of brush-marks, many months of experimentation were needed before completely satisfactory results were achieved. [..] The vision of uniting fine with industrial art, coupled with concern for quality of design, led Ascher to produce a special series of squares to be printed in limited editions of between two and six hundred each. Prominent artists were commissioned, and the edition of each design was to be printed in only the original colourway, the squares individually numbered, and the screens destroyed after the printing. [..] As soon as the war was over, Zika Ascher sought out artists in France. Some contacts in Paris art circles who were approached for advice were less than enthusiastic about this 'crazy' venture. [..] Matisse's agent said that he would never dare ask 'for work of this kind'. This hitch threw Ascher back on his own resources. Having successfully liaised with artists of the highest calibre in England, he was not ready to accept defeat. After walking aimlessly around Paris, wondering what course of action to take, he stopped at the Café du Rond Pont des Champs-Elysées and, fortifying himself with a strong coffee extravagantly sweetened with two extra lumps of black market sugar, he picked up the telephone and spoke directly to Matisse, Braque, Bérard, Picasso and Derain, each one of whom showed an immediate interest in the project and invited him to meet them. [..] A special relationship was soon built up with Matisse, which resulted in a series of designs, not only for squares but also for dress fabrics and large wall panels. His elegant and deceptively simple cerulean-blue square, with découpé coral motifs arranged in rectangles at each corner, had a 'sister' design printed in grey-blue. Literature Valerie D. Mendes, Ascher: fabric · art · fashion: Zika and Lida Ascher, London, Victoria & Albert Museum, 1987, pp. 23-27, 67. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing