Designed by Mrs. Howard C. Blake (American) for Anker S. Graven and Arthur Guy Mayger Architectural Firm (American, active c. 1891–1948)
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Upholstery Fabric for the Fisher Theater
INV-1496
Designed by Mrs. Howard C. Blake (American) for Anker S. Graven and Arthur Guy Mayger Architectural Firm (American, active c. 1891–1948)
Detroit, Michigan, United Statesc. 1928
Upholstery Fabric for the Fisher Theater
Designed by Mrs. Howard C. Blake (American) for Anker S. Graven and Arthur Guy Mayger Architectural Firm (American, active c. 1891–1948) Detroit, Michigan, United States →Modernismtextileweaving - printed
Date
c. 1928
Medium
Cotton and wool, plain weave with supplementary pile warps forming cut solid velvet; printed
Dimensions
183.5 × 141.3 cm (72 1/4 × 55 5/8 in.); Repeat: 68.4 × 68.5 cm (27 × 27 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Purchased with funds provided by Mrs. Ralph P. Youngren
This velvet was designed to fit into the highly fantastical and elaborate Pre-Columbian inspired interior of the Fisher Theater in Detroit, illustrated in the panel to the left. The brightly colored and boldly patterned fabric, which features an abstract figure, coordinated with the overall theatricality of the environment. Pre-Columbian art and architecture became increasingly popular among American designers during the 1920s and ‘30s, in part due to the perception that these ancient art forms set a precedent for American artistic achievement independent of Europe.
Also notable
Works in the same vein
