The image is © 1950 Cowtan and Tout. See our image rights statement.

 

Object Timeline

1950

  • Work on this object began.

1987

  • Work on this object ended.

2016

  • We acquired this object.

2018

2024

  • You found it!

Textile, Malachite

This is a Textile. It was designed by Larsen Design Studio and produced by Jack Lenor Larsen Incorporated. It is dated 1950-55 and we acquired it in 2016. Its medium is rayon, polyester, wool, metal-poly yarn and its technique is plain weave. It is a part of the Textiles department.

Malachite was a colorful and durable upholstery material that would have given any interior a sophisticated elegance. Another fabric from the 1950s---the early years of Jack Lenor Larsen Inc. ---he again was designing for and adding rich color to a modern interior. His exploration and use of new or unusual fibers, such as this metallic polyeseter yarn in the weft, would have partnered equally well with stainless steel furniture or furniture made from more natural substances. Although it recalls other "workhorse" fabrics from that period manufactured by Knoll, the glint of metal would have added a particular sparkle to a room.
A small sample of this fabric (1955-61-7) is in the museum's collection.

This object was donated by Longhouse Reserve. It is credited Cowtan and Tout Larsen Archive Collection, Gift of Longhouse Reserve.

Its dimensions are

H x W: 298.5 × 119.4 cm (9 ft. 9 1/2 in. × 47 in.)

Cite this object as

Textile, Malachite; Designed by Larsen Design Studio (United States); Produced by Jack Lenor Larsen Incorporated (United States); rayon, polyester, wool, metal-poly yarn; H x W: 298.5 × 119.4 cm (9 ft. 9 1/2 in. × 47 in.); Cowtan and Tout Larsen Archive Collection, Gift of Longhouse Reserve; 2016-32-16

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/673135643/ |title=Textile, Malachite |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=26 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>