The image is © 1978 Cowtan and Tout. See our image rights statement.

 

Object Timeline

1978

  • Work on this object began.

1981

  • Work on this object ended.

2016

  • We acquired this object.

2018

2024

  • You found it!

Textile, Countercurrent

This is a Textile. It was designed by Larsen Design Studio and produced by Jack Lenor Larsen Incorporated. It is dated 1978 and we acquired it in 2016. Its medium is cotton and its technique is hand printed on plain weave. It is a part of the Textiles department.

Countercurrent is an oversized cane pattern that was hand-printed in Thailand. Larsen’s connection with Thailand began in 1959-60 when he traveled to research grass weaving in South Vietnam and visited his friend, Jim Thompson in Bangkok. Thompson was the legendary American entrepreneur who revived the silk weaving industry in Bangkok after World War II. Thompson suspiciously disappeared in 1967 while on holiday with friends, and his company, Thaibok Silk Co., struggled to stay afloat for years after. In 1972 Larsen bought Thaibok Ltd., the distributor for Thompson's company, and created his own designs in Thailand. In Countercurrent, Larsen was likely inspired by basket-making techniques (still a passion for Larsen) that he certainly encountered in his travels to southeast Asia.

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: 381 × 129.5 cm (12 ft. 6 in. × 51 in.) Repeat H: 91.4 cm (36 in.)

Cite this object as

Textile, Countercurrent; Designed by Larsen Design Studio (United States); Produced by Jack Lenor Larsen Incorporated (United States); cotton; H x W: 381 × 129.5 cm (12 ft. 6 in. × 51 in.) Repeat H: 91.4 cm (36 in.); Cowtan and Tout Larsen Archive Collection, Gift of Longhouse Reserve; 2016-32-8

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

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/673135603/ |title=Textile, Countercurrent |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=25 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>