In the 1950s and '60s, Alexander Girard energized the furniture designs of his colleagues, including Charles and Ray Eames, with a vibrant color palette and folk-inspired textiles. By using the application of color and pattern to emphasize form, he redefined textiles as being more than just functional. Born in 1907 in New York City and raised in Florence, Italy, Girard was educated at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London. In 1932, he opened a design studio in New York City, and in 1949 he was chosen to design the Detroit Institute of Arts' "For Modern Living" exhibition, which focused on the design of common items and included the first public display of the Eameses' molded plywood chairs. In 1952, Charles Eames recruited Girard to become Herman Miller's director of design for the company's textile division, a post that Girard held for 20 years, resulting in more than 300 vibrantly hued fabrics and wallpapers. These pillows are upholstered in Girard's Retrospective (1952) fabric, which was originally designed for the Herman Miller Textile Division and used as wallpaper. Made in USA.
These pillows are available for a limited time. Quantities are limited.
DWR Exclusive
Materials
RETROSPECTIVE, 68% cotton, 32% nylon. INSERT, 100% cotton ticking filled with 95% feathers and 5% down.
"Art is only art when it is synonymous with living."
There are two certitudes commonly assigned to mid-century designer Alexander Girard: He was the least well-known of the great designers at Herman Miller in the 1950s and 1960s, and he was the greatest colorist and textile designer of modern time. Although seemingly contradictory, both statements are accurate and are a reflection of Girard and the time period in which he worked. During his career, Girard energized the furniture designs of his Herman Miller colleagues with a new, vibrant color palette and an oeuvre of folk-inspired textiles. He was the first modern designer to define textiles as being more than just functional and to further emphasize form through the application of color and pattern. Read more >
