Name/Title
Branding, Packaging: Pack Board, c.1953Description
A pack board for table linens with a one-color offset print in brown ink on single-ply natural chipboard describing the Country Prints enterprise owned and operated by artist Robert Darr Wert, used by Country Prints c.1953-1960. This c.1953 update adds a brown border to a previous unbordered design. The illustrations are a slightly reduced version of those found on the earlier letterpress edition on flecked appear.
Text describes the geographical location, ethos behind Country Prints, employment of and camaraderie with the neighbors he employed, and how and where the work was produced on his farm.
Imagery is representative of signature Wert elements: a large squared heart at center, roosters, a weather vane, farm tools, cookery tools, a glass demijohn, metal ware, a manicured topiary/tree, scrolled linework and a trailing vine.
Designed and used as an integral part of Country Prints packaging, pack boards provided physical support to packaged sets of placemats, napkins and tablecloths, while informing customers of the ethos and care that went into their purchase.
A red-on-white version of this pack board was used for packaging Christmas products; see images.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Robert Darr WertRole
ArtistManufacturer
Country PrintsDate made
circa 1953 - circa 1960Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
Location
Gill MA.Continent
North AmericaNotes
Date taken from a 1955 article in Design, “A Breath of New England, which uses the butter churn from the pack board as a graphic element. See Archive, Editorial: 1955, Journal of Design, Vol. 55, Issue 2.Inscription/Signature/Marks
“robert darr wert” in script with “w” in a squared heart.Dimensions
Depth
13 inLength
18-5/8 in
