Update Our ticketing, donations, and membership sales portal is down for scheduled maintenance on the afternoon of 4/11.
Cotton textile sample with a patchwork floral design in purple, gray, and light and dark blue. Selvage edge.
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.
"MARIMEKKO OY SUOMI - FINLAND MARIMEKKO R MAIJA ISOLA: 'PISTAASSI' [washing direction icons]" (Printed)
Pistaassi
Thompson, Ben, Mr.
3098
Design Research
Thompson, Ben, Mr.
Isola, Maija, 1927-2001 (Designer)
Marimekko (Manufacturer)
Finland; Cambridge, Massachusetts
53 1/2 x 28 (HxW) (inches)
Gift of Jane Thompson
2000.491.17
Title 19 Accession Number 2000.491.1
Historic New England is committed to implementing reparative language description for existing collections and creating respectful and inclusive language description for new collections. If you encounter language in Historic England's Collections Access Portal that is harmful or offensive, or you find materials that would benefit from a content warning, please contact [email protected].
Sign up to our newsletter for our latest news and events
