From 1905 onwards, Kendrick published books and articles about textiles, including English Embroidery (London: G. Newnes, 1905), and 'Early textiles from Damietta' (The Burlington Magazine, 32, 1918, pp. 10-11 and 14-15). He became a specialist on carpets and rugs from around the world and in 1922 he and C.E.T. Tattersall published Hand-woven Carpets, Oriental and European (2 vols. London: Benn Brothers).
One of Kendrick's most famous textile studies is the three volume, Catalogue of Textiles from Burying-Grounds in Egypt (London: HMSO; Vol. 1: Graeco-Roman Period [1920]; Vol. 2: Period of Transition and of Christian Emblems [1921], and Vol. 3: Coptic Period [1922]). These volumes were followed by the Catalogue of Muhammadan Textiles of the Medieval Period, Victoria and Albert Museum (London: Board of Education, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924).
He retired from the V&A in 1924, but remained active in the textile field. In 1925, for example, Kendrick wrote a chapter about Chinese textiles for Chinese Art: An Introductory Handbook (ed. Roger Fry et alia, Burlington Magazine / B. T. Batsford). In 1927 he wrote the tapestry entries for the catalogue for the Flemish and Belgian art exhibition at Burlington House (Catalogue of the Loan Exhibition of Flemish & Belgian Art, Burlington House, London: Country Life, ltd. / The Anglo-Belgian Union). His second book on embroidery, English Needlework (London: A. & C. Black Ltd) was published in 1933 (revised edition by Patricia Wardle, 1967).
Sources:
- 'Mr. A. F. Kendrick authority on textiles', The Times (London) July 20, 1954, p. 10;
- SMITH, H. Clifford. 'Mr. A. F. Kendrick', The Times (London) July 24, 1954, p. 8.
- http://www.dictionaryofarthistorians.org/kendricka.htm (retrieved 2 April 2016).
Digital source of illustration (retrieved 1 July 2016).
GVE