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.
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.
