British wallpaper and textile company Sanderson is celebrating its 150th anniversary with an exhibition to highlight the best of its archive. The exhibition, titled Very Sanderson: 150 Years of English Decoration, takes place at The Fashion & Textile Museum in London’s Bermondsey.

VERY SANDERSON: 150 YEARS OF ENGLISH DECORATION

19th March – 13th June 2010

83 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF (020 7407 8664)

The company was founded in 1860 by Arthur Sanderson and has prevailed to become one of the foremost companies in its genre, having survived through the turn of two centuries to leave an indelible mark  on British interior decoration.

Throughout its history, Sanderson has achieved a number of firsts: the first to produce a coordinated collection of mass-produced wallpapers and fabrics in Britain; the first to build a decorators’ showroom using hinge display screens now seen in showrooms worldwide; the first sole source in Britain of extravagantly expensive French papers; the first wallpaper manufacturer to receive a Royal Warrant.

Over the years, the company has acquired a massive collection of wallpapers and textiles that represent the history of its milieu. The exhibition, co-curated by the museum’s Dennis Nothdruft and independent Mary Schoeser, highlights the best of its archive as well as brand new collections.

The exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated book, titled Sanderson: The essence of  English Decoration, written by Mary Schoeser (£18.95, Thames & Hudson). Furthermore, during London Design Week (21-26th March at Chelsea Harbour), the company launches the Vintage collection – reissued designs from the archive that encapsulate the best eras from their 15 decades.