Name/Title
Towel, Wallhanging: Happy Heart U230Description
A four-color silkscreen print on natural linen depicting angels, roosters, peacocks, flowers, and hex signs framing the text, “may you have a happy heart,” within three hearts.
This design appears in the brochures “Country Prints by Robert Darr Wert and Neighbors”, c.1963 and c.1966, see images. It was offered on off-white linen and natural linen. This example in printed on natural linen. A matching natural linen apron, tile and other kitchen accessories were also produced; see images.
Based on availability in the resellers’ market, this may have been one of Wert’s best-selling towel/wallhangings. Wert reworked this design into multiple calendar wallhangings and coordinating kitchen items.
This is one of over sixty designs sold by Country Prints to Stevens Linen Associates of Dudley, Massachusetts, in January 1969. From that point onward, the designs were produced by Stevens with all reference to Robert Darr Wert and Country Prints removed. Many of these designs continued to be produced by Stevens throughout the 1970’s and some into the 1980’s.
In a memo from Fritz Kaufhold (Country Prints business manager) to Bob MacKay (Stonelea Mills/Stevens Linen Associates) dated February 12, 1969, Fritz notes, “Though a Penn Dutch design, popular everywhere. The unbleached sold better because we offered a matching apron and potholder.” Later in the memo he indicates this was a bestseller in the Country Prints line.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Robert Darr WertRole
ArtistManufacturer
Country PrintsDate made
circa 1962Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
Location
Gill MA.Continent
North AmericaInscription/Signature/Marks
“wert” with heart and “by hand”, lower left corner; “© COUNTRY PRINTS - pure Linen”, lower right corner.Dimensions
Height
30-1/2 inWidth
16-1/2 inMaterial
Textile Ink, Unbleached LinenColors
Color
Brick Red, Teal, chartreuse, BlackColor Notes
Dark green is produced by overprinting teal and chartreuse.
