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Object Timeline

-0001

1928

  • Work on this object began.

1996

  • We acquired this object.

2001

2016

2024

  • You found it!

Sidewall, Sahara

This is a sidewall. It was designed by Edward Bawden and produced by The Curwen Press. It is dated 1928 and we acquired it in 1996. Its medium is lithograph from linocut. It is a part of the Wallcoverings department.

Edward Bawden was a watercolorist, book illustrator, mural painter, and designer. In 1925, Bawden saw William Morris’s wallpaper, Daisy, in an exhibition and was inspired to design his first wallpaper. Bawden's early wallpaper designs were hand printed by linoleum block. Harold Curwen, of the Curwen Press, saw some of these early designs and wanted to transfer the pieces to his lithographic press so they could be reproduced and sold. The lithographic printing copied all the nuances of the linoleum prints but could only print on sheets of paper, not in rolls. Bawden designed 14 wallpapers between 1926 and 1933 for the Curwen Press.
This is one of a group of Bawden papers under consideration for acquisition. In addition to being rare, these papers will expand our holdings of Bawden’s designs. At the time of proposed acquisition, Cooper-Hewitt’s collection holds just one wallpaper by Bawden, Stone Ivy (1992-191-5), from 1938, which was designed for the English firm, Cole and Sons. (April 17, 1996)

It is credited Museum purchase from Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program and Pauline C. Noyes Funds.

Its dimensions are

H x W: 70.5 x 53.5 cm (27 3/4 x 21 1/16in.)

Cite this object as

Sidewall, Sahara; Designed by Edward Bawden (English, 1903 – 1989); Produced by The Curwen Press (United Kingdom); England; lithograph from linocut; H x W: 70.5 x 53.5 cm (27 3/4 x 21 1/16in.); Museum purchase from Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program and Pauline C. Noyes Funds; 1996-32-6

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Rooms with a View: Landscape & Wallpaper.

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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/18653535/ |title=Sidewall, Sahara |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=26 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>