Blanket
Witney Blanket Co Ltd
Category
Textiles
Date
c. 1962 - c. 1968
Materials
Wool
Measurements
1460 mm (Width)
Place of origin
Witney
Collection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 672507
Summary
A Witney wool Beatles themed blanket. The blanket is yellow with red stitching along the top and bottom edges. It features a design with ‘THE BEATLES’ printed in its centre in large black letters and head and shoulder portraits of the four Beatles band members (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) wearing red jackets and black ties. These portraits are based on original photos taken by the Slovak photographer Dezo Hoffman and adjacent to each one is printed the relevant persons forename. The design also features a number of musical instruments in black. There is a Witney Blanket label stitched to the blanket on its bottom left corner and a brown paper label tied to bottom edge with letters and numbers handwritten in black ink: 'S/3’, ‘44’, ‘40T4’, ‘43' 9’ and ‘60 X 80’. The Beatles were an English pop group formed in Liverpool in 1960 whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Known as ‘The Fab Four’ their recording career lasted until 1970 and they are considered by many to be the most influential band of all time.
Provenance
Originally made by The Witney Blanket Co. Ltd. circa 1960's. Purchased by the National Trust Museum of Childhood from Omega Auctions on 24th March 2020 as part of the Collecting Cultures 'Exploring Childhoods' project.
Marks and inscriptions
Bottom left corner: Label stitched to blanket: 'GUARANTEED WITNEY BLANKET' Bottom edge: Brown paper label tied to bottom edge with letters and numbers handwritten in black ink: 'S/3’, ‘44’, ‘40T4’, ‘43' 9’ and ‘60 X 80’.
Makers and roles
Witney Blanket Co Ltd, maker