Collection by Miyoko Ohtake

Britain's Mid-Century Female Designers

Of the iconic women designers working in the mid-20th century, the two most often recognized—and adored—are Ray Eames and Lucienne Day (the female halves of two of the best-known creative couples of the era). While Eames won our hearts with her inventive furniture designs, Day brought modernism to the masses via her woven textile designs. On Saturday, May 15, the Textile Museum in Washington, DC, opens a new exhibit featuring the work of Day and two other mid-century British designers—Marian Mahler and Jacqueline Groad—titled Art by the Yard: Women Design Mid-Century Britain. The show is on display through September 12 and here we present a slideshow of 20 textiles from the exhibition.

2008.05.3285_BLNP R2.2SG, 7/9/08, 4:38 PM, 16C, 5414x7659 (243+265), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG,  1/40 s, R61.3, G39.0, B55.6
2008.05.3285_BLNP R2.2SG, 7/9/08, 4:38 PM, 16C, 5414x7659 (243+265), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG, 1/40 s, R61.3, G39.0, B55.6
2006-05-2004_BLNP, 5/29/08, 6:08 PM, 16C, 5988x7420 (0+579), 100%, Better Push 6,  1/60 s, R59.4, G36.4, B53.0
2006-05-2004_BLNP, 5/29/08, 6:08 PM, 16C, 5988x7420 (0+579), 100%, Better Push 6, 1/60 s, R59.4, G36.4, B53.0
2005.05.2139, 7/30/08, 1:10 PM, 16C, 5912x7655 (48+214), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG,  1/40 s, R60.5, G38.3, B54.6
2005.05.2139, 7/30/08, 1:10 PM, 16C, 5912x7655 (48+214), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG, 1/40 s, R60.5, G38.3, B54.6
Fabric-BLNP R2.2SG_09, 6/27/08, 10:25 PM, 16C, 5970x7498 (28+342), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG,  1/40 s, R61.7, G39.0, B55.2
Fabric-BLNP R2.2SG_09, 6/27/08, 10:25 PM, 16C, 5970x7498 (28+342), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG, 1/40 s, R61.7, G39.0, B55.2
Marian Mahler. Image courtesy of the estate of Lotte Meitner-Graf. Art by the Yard: Women Design Mid-Century Britain is on display at the Textile Museum in Washington, DC, May 15-September 12, 2010.
Marian Mahler. Image courtesy of the estate of Lotte Meitner-Graf. Art by the Yard: Women Design Mid-Century Britain is on display at the Textile Museum in Washington, DC, May 15-September 12, 2010.
Helix, 9/3/08, 4:38 PM, 16C, 5348x6436 (138+868), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG,  1/40 s, R62.9, G40.5, B56.8
Helix, 9/3/08, 4:38 PM, 16C, 5348x6436 (138+868), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG, 1/40 s, R62.9, G40.5, B56.8
Good Food_BLXP, 5/29/08, 1:43 PM, 16C, 5288x7145 (279+469), 100%, Better Push 6,  1/30 s, R65.9, G43.5, B62.7
Good Food_BLXP, 5/29/08, 1:43 PM, 16C, 5288x7145 (279+469), 100%, Better Push 6, 1/30 s, R65.9, G43.5, B62.7
2007.05.3155, 8/27/08, 4:18 PM, 16C, 5984x6307 (14+982), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG,  1/40 s, R59.9, G37.5, B53.5
2007.05.3155, 8/27/08, 4:18 PM, 16C, 5984x6307 (14+982), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG, 1/40 s, R59.9, G37.5, B53.5
Cloth 3_BLLP, 5/2/08, 9:46 PM, 16C, 4870x7343 (262+551), 100%, Better Push 6,  1/40 s, R55.5, G35.3, B57.6
Cloth 3_BLLP, 5/2/08, 9:46 PM, 16C, 4870x7343 (262+551), 100%, Better Push 6, 1/40 s, R55.5, G35.3, B57.6
Jack Sprat_BLXP, 5/29/08, 1:15 PM, 16C, 5236x7034 (262+504), 100%, Better Push 6,  1/30 s, R65.9, G43.5, B62.7
Jack Sprat_BLXP, 5/29/08, 1:15 PM, 16C, 5236x7034 (262+504), 100%, Better Push 6, 1/30 s, R65.9, G43.5, B62.7
High Noon, 7/22/08, 6:07 PM, 16C, 5834x7304 (0+520), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG,  1/40 s, R62.1, G39.5, B55.8
High Noon, 7/22/08, 6:07 PM, 16C, 5834x7304 (0+520), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG, 1/40 s, R62.1, G39.5, B55.8
Lapis, 7/30/08, 1:26 PM, 16C, 5726x6123 (234+1317), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG,  1/40 s, R60.5, G38.3, B54.6
Lapis, 7/30/08, 1:26 PM, 16C, 5726x6123 (234+1317), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG, 1/40 s, R60.5, G38.3, B54.6
Calyx, (detail), 1951. Lucienne Day. Manufactured by Heal Fabrics. Jill A. Wiltse and H. Kirk Brown III Collection of British Textiles. On display at the Textile Museum in Washington, DC, May 15-September 12, 2010, as part of the exhibit Art by the Yard: Women Design Mid-Century Britain.
Calyx, (detail), 1951. Lucienne Day. Manufactured by Heal Fabrics. Jill A. Wiltse and H. Kirk Brown III Collection of British Textiles. On display at the Textile Museum in Washington, DC, May 15-September 12, 2010, as part of the exhibit Art by the Yard: Women Design Mid-Century Britain.
2007.05.3177, 7/22/08, 6:46 PM, 16C, 5804x7456 (28+291), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG,  1/40 s, R62.1, G39.5, B55.8
2007.05.3177, 7/22/08, 6:46 PM, 16C, 5804x7456 (28+291), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG, 1/40 s, R62.1, G39.5, B55.8
Fabric-BLNP R2.2SG_01, 6/27/08, 8:53 PM, 16C, 5638x7974 (323+19), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG,  1/40 s, R61.7, G39.0, B55.2
Fabric-BLNP R2.2SG_01, 6/27/08, 8:53 PM, 16C, 5638x7974 (323+19), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG, 1/40 s, R61.7, G39.0, B55.2
Unlabelled Fabric 1, 7/30/08, 11:48 AM, 16C, 5736x5694 (204+1356), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG,  1/40 s, R60.5, G38.3, B54.6
Unlabelled Fabric 1, 7/30/08, 11:48 AM, 16C, 5736x5694 (204+1356), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG, 1/40 s, R60.5, G38.3, B54.6
Lucienne Day. Image courtesy Robin Day. Art by the Yard: Women Design Mid-Century Britain is on display at the Textile Museum in Washington, DC, May 15-September 12, 2010.
Lucienne Day. Image courtesy Robin Day. Art by the Yard: Women Design Mid-Century Britain is on display at the Textile Museum in Washington, DC, May 15-September 12, 2010.
Paperdolls, 7/30/08, 1:02 PM, 16C, 5716x7089 (48+214), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG,  1/40 s, R60.5, G38.3, B54.6
Paperdolls, 7/30/08, 1:02 PM, 16C, 5716x7089 (48+214), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG, 1/40 s, R60.5, G38.3, B54.6
Red Panel, 9/2/08, 5:35 PM, 16C, 5834x6303 (50+1020), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG,  1/40 s, R64.4, G42.0, B58.2
Red Panel, 9/2/08, 5:35 PM, 16C, 5834x6303 (50+1020), 100%, Repro 2.2 SG, 1/40 s, R64.4, G42.0, B58.2

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