Joy de Gruchy and Craftsman's Market archive
By Leela Wittmer and Heidi Stevens, Librarians Metadata services. | 21 February 2023
State Library of Queensland staff have been busy describing, arranging and conserving the Joy de Gruchy and Craftsman’s Market archive, available now on our catalogue. The Craftsman's Market was born out of a gap in the market for homemakers in Queensland looking for good design and crafts to furnish their homes. Joy De Gruchy, migrating to Brisbane in 1962, quickly noted this gap and began operated the Craftsman's Market in Jephson Street, Toowong in 1963, where it remained until 1988.
The 1970s façade of the Craftsman's Market with a red Volkswagen Golf parked in front. 32969, Joy de Gruchy and Craftsman's Market archive, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number 32969-0002-0004.
De Gruchy partnered with local and international artists and craftspeople to provide designs and products to the Queensland market and became an important figure in bringing a modern Italian and Scandinavian aesthetics to Brisbane.
Joy de Gruchy in front of Craftsman's Market arranging a colourful display of flowers. 32969, Joy de Gruchy and Craftsman's Market archive, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number 2969-0002-0002.
Notable was her introduction of Marimekko fabrics, with their bold colour and design to Queensland. State Library has just finished conserving and housing these exceptional examples of fabrics. Each bolt of fabric has been preserved to ensure the intensity of colour and design remain intact for generations to come.
A selection of the Marimekko fabric samples from the collection, 32969 Joy de Gruchy and Craftsman's Market archive. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
Marimekko prints where not only in demand for curtains, blinds and wall hangings but fashion items as well. The Craftsman's Market provided a range of ready to wear clothing from the Marimekko catalogues. These bold garments were well suited to subtropical weather and revolutionised the way Queensland women dressed for outdoor social events.
Selection of Marimekko point-of-purchase display posters. 32969 Joy de Gruchy and Craftsman's Market archive, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
The Craftsman's Market was a significant contributor to art, craft, design and culture in Brisbane from 1963 to 1988. De Gruchy herself was actively involved in promoting art and craft in Australia, so much so that the Whitlam government asked her to sit on the Crafts Board of the newly revitalised Australian Council for the Arts. De Gruchy was also a member of the Society of Interior Designers of Australia, now the Design Institute of Australia, for 22 years.
This collection was generously donated by The Joy de Gruchy Family Trust in 2021 and includes photographs, business records, clippings and stock samples such greeting cards and the Marimekko fabric shown above.
A collection guide is now available.
Leela Wittmer and Heidi Stevens, Librarians Metadata services.
Collection
- 32969 Joy de Gruchy and Craftsman's Market archive, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.
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