See more objects with the color grey silver or see all the colors for this object.

Object Timeline

1957

  • Work on this object began.

2011

2024

  • You found it!

Textile, Knoll Nylon Homespun

This is a Textile. It was produced by Knoll Textiles. It is dated 1957 and we acquired it in 2011. Its medium is nylon and its technique is plain weave. It is a part of the Textiles department.

Suzanne Huguenin, head of the Knoll textiles department from 1955 to 1964, considered Knoll Nylon Homespun to be “the most important contribution I made to Knoll.” Introduced in 1958, it remained in the line for over 30 years and sold millions of yards.
Huguenin discovered the material by chance at the Moss Rose Mill in Philadelphia, where the weavers were experimenting with a nylon carpet yarn developed by DuPont. Its thick-and-thin slubbed texture was the result of spinning new and waste nylon together. When woven, it imitated the effect of hand-spun, hand-woven wool, but with an incredible durability. Its appealing texture and strong colors made it a workhorse of the line for corporate interior upholstery, and its durability set new standards for contract furnishings.
The museum’s collection includes a chair designed by Eero Saarinen chair with original upholstery of Knoll Nylon Homespun.

It is credited Gift of Richard and Trudy Schultz.

Its dimensions are

H x W: 135.9 x 62.2 cm (53 1/2 x 24 1/2 in.)

Cite this object as

Textile, Knoll Nylon Homespun; Produced by Knoll Textiles (United States); USA; nylon; H x W: 135.9 x 62.2 cm (53 1/2 x 24 1/2 in.); Gift of Richard and Trudy Schultz; 2011-25-12

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/18789735/ |title=Textile, Knoll Nylon Homespun |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=19 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>