Mackelvie’s pattern books – a design story on display

On Display until the 5th Feb

The Atrium display in the Central Library Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero (6 November 2024 to 5 February 2025) features six exceptional works ranging from outsize folios to a modest volume, similar that seen in the portrait of James Tannock Mackelvie painted at his home in Hyeres, France in 1884, a year before his death.

Following a 2024 stocktake and Heritage Cataloguer Ian Snowdon’s cataloguing enhancements for the Mackelvie Collection, there are new opportunities to showcase aspects of the extraordinary Victorian library the philanthropist and collector James Mackelvie built for us. See it here.

The recent talk ‘Ex Libris JT Mackelvie’ was an opportunity to showcase books from the Mackelvie Collection. The visually arresting pattern books are a good way to sample the collection.

Visit the Central City Library Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero
Monday to Friday 10am - 6pm, 10am - 5pm Saturday.