Textile with Fall Leaves

c. 1952

Textile with Fall Leaves, c. 1952. Possibly by Astrid Sampe (Swedish, 1909–2002), possibly by Nordiska Kompaniet (Swedish, est. 1902). Plain weave bleached linen, loom width, printed; overall: 111.8 x 127 cm (44 x 50 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Harold T. Clark Educational Extension Fund 1953.79 Though Sampe’s later designs often feature abstracted grids and lines, this design harkens back to the designer’s earlier motifs with soft organic shapes. The placement of leaves in this pattern follow a prevailing geometry. Always concerned with functionality and practicality, Sampe’s designs were conducive to a variety of interior purposes such as drapery and upholstery. This characteristic six-pronged leaf is seen in several of Astrid Sampe’s designs from the late 1930s.