Two square cotton textile swatches stapled at top. Both feature a repeating abstract floral design, one in a light and dark brown and the other in light and dark gray.
cloth
Sample, Material
Sample, Material
Ben Thompson, the donor's husband, was a member of The Architects Collaborative. In 1952, he started Design Research in Cambridge to provide appropriate furnishings for modernist interiors. According to the donor, Ben Thompson first saw Marimekko textiles at the Brussels Worlds Fair in 1957 and subsequently asked an intern to bring some examples back to Boston when returning from a summer internship in Finland. Thompson then negotiated an exclusive to import Marimekko textiles which were sold at Design Research by the yard for clothing or furnishings. Pillows, men's shirts, women's dresses, umbrellas and other household items made from this printed cotton fabric were also sold at Design Research. According to the donor, Marimekko fabric was used for both clothing and furnishings, regardless of its design or weight.
Fabric 1: "PIENI HEDELMAKORI" "101"
Fabric 2: "10.2" (Printed paper label)
Hedelmakori
Thompson, Ben, Mr.
3088
Design Research
Thompson, Ben, Mr.
Rimala, Annika (Designer)
Marimekko (Manufacturer)
Finland; Cambridge, Massachusetts
8 1/4 x 8 1/4 (HxW) (inches)
Gift of Jane Thompson
2000.491.7
Title 19 Accession Number 2000.491.1
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