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Agreement underlines key strengths of licensing campaign inspired by Museum collection
The British Museum, the UK’s most popular visitor attraction, has licensed respected independent rug designer and developer The Moorland Rug Company to produce a range of British Museum rugs based on the world-famous works of Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai, whose print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, is one of the most iconic images in history.
The range of rugs will comprise four designs drawn from the works of Hokusai, including the famous Great Wave image and one of Hokusai’s much-loved prints depicting cranes. The designs are adapted from impressions held in the British Museum collection based on the original woodblock print. All four rugs will be made in silk and wool. The display size will be 3ft x 4ft 6ins, but all rugs will be made to order in a size and shape chosen by the customer.
The rugs will be available from November at Moorland Rug Company’s own website, along with American and Japanese online retailers. Physical retail outlets will be announced in the coming months.
The target audience will be high-end homeware buyers and Hokusai collectors worldwide, who will be enthusiastic customers for this high value, bespoke item that can be cherished for a lifetime and passed on to other generations.
Established in 2008, Moorland Rug Company is run by Brian and Judith Sales. Brian Sales has designed and restored carpets and rugs throughout his working life, both for UK manufacturers and for a range of clients including St Andrews Golf Club and English Heritage. The company strives to produce innovative pieces from GoodWeave accredited ethically sourced manufacturers.
Moorland Rugs is the latest addition to the British Museum licensing programme. Specialist brand agency TSBA Group has been appointed to build a global licensing campaign on behalf of the Museum. The British Museum licensing programme has three main aims: to communicate the Museum and its values to a wide audience; to promote the Museum’s role telling the story of cultural achievement throughout the world; and to raise awareness of the British Museum as a museum of the world for the world.
Central to the programme is the Museum’s vast collection of art and objects, which provides a wealth of exciting opportunities for licensees in many categories. A number of deals have already been signed and further licensee announcements relating to a number of categories, including apparel and accessories, home textiles, stationery and wall art, are expected soon.
Founded in 1753, the British Museum was the first national public museum in the world. The collection tells the stories of cultures across the world, from the dawn of human history, over two million years ago, to the present. The British Museum’s collection of over 8 million objects spans the history of the world’s cultures. It’s an extraordinary record of art and artefacts over thousands of years.
Brian Sales, Director, Moorland Rugs, says: “Hokusai, like the British Museum, which houses many of his images, is a name known around the world. We are thrilled to have been asked to produce this range of high quality rugs that bring together two globally recognised and admired names.”
Craig Bendle, Manager of Merchandise Licensing, British Museum, says: “This agreement with Moorland Rugs is a symbolic of the key strengths of the British Museum licensing programme. The British Museum can offer licensees iconic images from a collection of historic objects and artworks from across the world.”
Ian Mallalue, CEO, TSBA Group, adds: “Interest in the British Museum licensing programme is growing apace and this agreement, with one of the most respected companies in its field, is a strong indication of its enormous potential across a wide variety of categories.”