Arabia Finland “Polaris” china with Waertsila Linens by Robert Darr Wert.
PKM collection. Images: PKM
Name/Title
Placemat: Waertsila Linens, Polaris
Description
A placemat set with two two-color silkscreen prints on off-white linen depicting wildflowers (napkin) and vines (placemat).
This placemat set set was designed by Wert to coordinate with china designed and produced by Arabia Finland, c.1956. The wildflowers on the napkin are Wert’s interpretation of the “Polaris” china pattern by famed Finnish designer Raija Uosikkinen. The vine border on the placemat is a variant of Wert’s typical trailing vine motif.
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 an editorial in Craft Horizons magazine in December 1956, 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. Two 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.
Wert also produced a custom product tag for the Waertsila linens; see images.
Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Robert Darr Wert
Role
Artist
Manufacturer
Country Prints
Date made
1956
Time Period
20th Century
Place
Location
Gill MA.
Continent
North America
Notes
Date based on editorial in Craft Horizons magazine, December 1956; see images.
