V&A Pattern The Fifties

The patterns illustrated in this book are from the Victoria and Albert Museums's textiles and wallpaper collections. They are representative of some of the most inventive and innovative pattern designs produced during the twentieth century. The extraordinary quantity and variety of textiles  and wallpapers acquired by intuitive and proactive curators pay tribute to some of the most dynamic artists, designers and manufacturer's of the 1950's.
The period is dominated by what is commonly defined as the 'contemporary' style. Often imitated, exuberant patterns and bright colourways have ensured each work's place in the lexicon of both British and international design history. The emerging trend for abstraction in the fine arts acted as a stimulus for many European and American designers. The fluid organic forms employed by Joan Miro and Paul Klee, and the brightly coloured mobiles created by Alexander Calder, are evident in the imaginative and inventive patterns created for fabrics and wallpapers. These seemingly casual, effortless designs are often descibed as 'whimsical'; however, such inventive combinations own much to the rigorous school training of new and established designers.