Child’s Set: Waertsila Linen Handprints and Arabia Finland
Description
A three-color silkscreen print on a baby bib with Wert’s interpretation of the pattern on a child’s china breakfast set by Arabia Finland (possibly by Anja Juurikala, pattern name TK). Bib is of bleached linen with a contrasting cotton seam binding and ties chosen to match the print design.
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”; see “Waertsila Linens by Robert Darr Wert” entries.
Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Robert Darr Wert
Role
Artist
Manufacturer
Country Prints
Date made
circa 1956
Time Period
20th Century
Place
Location
Gill MA.
Continent
North America
Notes
Date determined by an editorial in Craft Horizons magazine, December 1956, featuring a set of Wert’s linens made to match Arabia’s Linnea pattern.
Inscription/Signature/Marks
Bib is unsigned. Pack board bears Wert’s signature.
