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Object Timeline

1927

  • Work on this object began.

2008

  • We acquired this object.

2015

2024

  • You found it!

Sidewall, Flowers in Diagonal

This is a sidewall. It was produced by M.H. Birge & Sons Co.. It is dated 1927 and we acquired it in 2008. Its medium is machine-printed paper. It is a part of the Wallcoverings department.

Charles Burchfield is one of the best known American watercolorists of the 20th century. It is less well known that he began designing wallpaper for the M. H. Birge and Sons in Buffalo, New York in 1921. Burchfield became chief designer in 1927 and remained with the firm until 1929. Burchfield designed at least 19 wallpapers while working with Birge.
At the time of proposed acquisition, the museum’s collection includes small Burchfield wallpaper samples, including Flowers in Diagonal. Acquiring this roll of Flowers in Diagonal would allow us to exhibit a larger section of the design.

It is credited Gift of Sharon and Curtis Stetter and Lila Harnett.

Its dimensions are

L x W: 318.8 x 56 cm (10 ft. 5 1/2 in. x 22 1/16 in.)

It is inscribed

Printed in left selvedge: "Birge - Made in U.S.A. 3924"; printed in right selvedge: "Designed by Burchfield."

Cite this object as

Sidewall, Flowers in Diagonal; Produced by M.H. Birge & Sons Co. (United States); USA; machine-printed paper; L x W: 318.8 x 56 cm (10 ft. 5 1/2 in. x 22 1/16 in.); Gift of Sharon and Curtis Stetter and Lila Harnett; 2008-19-3

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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/18715837/ |title=Sidewall, Flowers in Diagonal |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=10 May 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>