Name/Title
Towel, Wallhanging: Country Store U249, New York World’s FairDescription
A four-color silkscreen print on natural linen depicting the interior and exterior of a country store.
This example bears a custom imprint for the New England Country Store at the New England Pavilion of the 1964-65 World’s Fair in New York City’s Flushing Meadows. The New England Country Store was a faithful country store replica sponsored by the Dundee Family Properties, a family corporation that ran gracious old hotels in New England. Items Wert produced for the fair included towel/wallhangings and gift-boxed tiles. See web links below for more info about the the New England Pavilion and the Country Store.
This towel/wallhanging was also offered without the World’s Fair imprint. Custom imprints of other businesses and tourist attractions have been documented.
This print appears in the brochures “Country Prints by Robert Darr Wert and Neighbors”, c.1963 and c.1966; see images.
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 this design is was a bestseller at the time.
This towel/wallhanging appears on a c.1965 promotional postcard for Bromley & Co. of Boston, Massachusetts, Country Prints’ New England wholesale representative to the gift trade.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Robert Darr WertRole
ArtistManufacturer
Country PrintsDate made
1962Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
Location
Gill MA.Continent
North AmericaNotes
Top edge hemmed to receive a dowel rod for hanging; bottom edge hemmed; sides selvedged.Inscription/Signature/Marks
“© 1963 COUNTRY PRINTS wert by hand”, lower left corner.
Custom imprint: “NEW ENGLAND COUNTRY STORE, NEW YORK WORLD’S FAIR, The Dunfee Family, Prop.”, lower margin.Dimensions
Height
30-1/2 inWidth
16-3/4 inMaterial
Unbleached Linen, Textile InkColor
Green, Red-Orange, Brown, Black
