Name/Title
Child’s Set: Waertsila Linen Handprints & Arabia Finland, Zoo Breakfast SetDescription
A four-color silkscreen printed baby bib to match the “Zoo” child’s breakfast set designed by Anja Juurikala for Arabia Finland, c.1956. The silkscreen print on the bib is Wert’s interpretation of Juurikala’s work. Bib is made of bleached linen bordered with cotton seam binding and ties chosen to match the print.
Most likely produced for Twining & Buck of Salisbury, Connecticut, a high end retailer of modern home furnishings. Twining & Buck had relationships with both Arabia and Country Prints from the time the shop opened in 1950. Based on a December 1956 editorial in Craft Horizons magazine, textile historian Susan Ward believes it is most likely Twining & Buck engaged Robert Darr Wert to produce silkscreen printed bibs and placemat sets to match the Arabia Finland china in their inventory. Arabia Finland knows of no such working relationship between their company and Wert. Several baby bibs and two placemat sets have been documented under the name “Waertsila Linens Hand Printed by Robert Darr Wert”.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Robert Darr WertRole
ArtistManufacturer
Country PrintsDate made
circa 1956Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
Location
Gill MA.Continent
North AmericaNotes
Date determined by editorial in Craft Horizons magazine, December 1956 (see separate entry for “Linnea” placemats).Inscription/Signature/Marks
UnsignedDimensions
Height
10-1/2 inWidth
9-1/2 inDimension Notes
Bib ties: 13”Material
Bleached Linen, Textile Ink, Cotton Seam BindingColor
Blue, Ochre, Brown, Black
