Contact David to learn more
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Contact David to learn more |
Archival Silk Screen Art Pieces | a unique opportunity to own a piece of Australian Design History
David and Helen Lennie were the owners of Signature Prints, with their studio originally in Rosebery. In 2000 they identified, restored, nurtured and launched the iconic Florence Broadhurst design archive. They were solely responsible for resurrecting and building the epynomous designs into a global brand. Over the decades that they ran Signature Prints, Florence’s designs were hand screen printed for fabric, wallpaper, and limited edition art, and became the look of the early 21st century, under the skill, tenacity, creativity and flair of the couple who brought the designs back to the forefront of the design world. Many years later, Helen shifted her focus to her career as a model, actress and her delightful business Lennie Dog Care, leaving David at the helm of Signture Prints until it’s recent sale. David continues to consult to the new owners (now Signature Hand Prints), whilst assisting Helen with Lennie Dog Care.
Anyone worth their salt in the design world - particularly interiors - is familiar with Broadhurst designs, often having an affection and strong emotional connection to it, with many still having wallpaper and soft furnishings in their homes, or the homes and businesses of their clients. For years, commercial & residential design projects incorporated wallpaper, fabric and artwork all produced by hand under the deft craftsmanship of the Lennies and their team at Signature Prints. Today, over 400 of Florence’s original silk screens are being offered as unique wall art. Each is presented in its original wooden frame, bearing a plaque stating its heritage and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. All enquiries and sales of the screens are handled directly with founder of Signature Prints, David Lennie. If you are interested, make contact with David here, and you will no doubt open up a wonderful opportunity to hear some of the rich history of Florence, her designs, and Signature Prints.
A Little About Florence
Born in rural Queensland in 1899, this flamboyant and eccentric designer was years ahead of her time. By the time of her death in 1977, Florence had lived and worked in Australia, Asia, and England; performing professionally on stage; hobnobbing with royalty; exhibiting her paintings; and commenced an internationally successful wallpaper company using her own designs.
Florence returned to Australia after a decade living in the UK, settling in Sydney and started painting, before transforming her creative talent into a business. She founded a revolutionary wallpaper business in 1959, creating hundreds of unique and luxurious patterns with rich and vibrant colours all perfectly matching her colourful personality. Her wallpapers monopolised the Australian market in the mid-60s and were exported to America, Peru, Paris, the Middle East and Norway. She continued to work actively until her death in 1977 at the age of 78.
Through Signature Prints, Florence’s designs were brought back to life and once again became iconic in the world of interior design and decoration in Australia and over 20 countries across the globe. They prided themselves in maintaining the standard of excellence that was set by Florence, and continued to hand-print high end, quality wallpapers, fabrics and limited edition art continuing their appeal into the 21st century.
There is lots of information about Florence Broadhurst for those wanting to delve deeper into the life and times of this risk-taking style mavin. Simply do a search, and you’ll discover a wealth of history, stories, and intrigue.
About the Archival Screens
Each Broadhurst design was held in its own silk screen which carried the design image ready for printing. These precious screens were once essential working tools of the print studio, dating back to the 60s and 70s. Their beauty and historical significance are being offered world-wide as iconic art pieces in their own right. They are historical items - to preserve their integrity we have chosen to offer them in their original, unaltered state. Able to be hung ‘as-is’, there are many ways these archival screens can be utilised as artwork including backlighting, encasement in perspex, suspended in space, and more. The only limit is your imagination.
The full range of available screens can be viewed in our flipbooks by contacting David, and in the Signature Hand Prints studio in St Peters (by appointment only). David can be reached by email: davidl@signatureprints.com.au
Links to Flipbooks here:
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