Indigo Guys: Ollive and Talwin

 [From the collection of the V & A.]

"China Blue" to some, but to others "English Blue," the intricate indigo-printing process used to create this circa 1780 furnishing cotton yielded gorgeous, colorfast shades. And, according to the V & A, engraved copper plates (relatively new at the time) enabled English manufacturer Ollive and Talwin, at Bromley Hall in East London, to make this print exceptionally refined. More on the indigo-based monochrome print here.