Armi Rattia
Finnish, 1912-1979
Prickstone (Tiiliskivi), 1952
Marimekko, Manufacturer, Helsinki, Finland, 1952-present
Screenprinted cotton
Gift of the Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design, Smithsonian Institution 85.63.1

Mid-Century Textile Design: Enlivening the Modern Home

Saturday, July 10, 2010—Sunday, February 20, 2011
Robert and Marlyss White Gallery (281)
Free Exhibition

After the Second World War, American and European printed textile design experienced a resurgence of creativity and productivity. Designers focused on pattern, proportion, and color to create printed fabrics that complemented modern architecture, interiors, and furniture. This installation features a selection of dynamic printed domestic textiles from the MIA's collection, designed mainly in the 1940s and 1950s. It includes works by the prominent fabric designers Angelo Testa and Lucienne Day, noted for their bold use of color and abstraction. In addition, a selection of lively and popular American ceramics designed by Eva Zeisel and Russel Wright provides further context for mid-century interiors.