Inspiration

Celebrating American folk art and design—mixing, matching, and reimagining vintage motifs for modern rooms. Our patterns incorporate elements from unique historical works of art in our extensive archive including, paintings, sculpture, collage and works on paper, textiles, and painted furniture. 

KIrtie cutwork with American Fantasy textiles in navy and taupe.

American Fantasy

This design incorporates whimsical elements from several American Folk art cutwork pictures made around 1850. It gets its name from a famous layered cut paper collage on a contrasting royal blue background made by an unidentified artist. This picture was exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1974 in the iconic exhibition, The Flowering of American Folk Art.

Cutwork picture, John Brown Walker (1815-1908), Midwest, circa 1880, cut paper on colored paper backing, foil, and daguerreotype of young boy. Private collection.
Cutwork picture, John Brown Walker (1815–1908), Midwest, circa 1880, cut paper on colored paper backing, foil, and daguerreotype of young boy. Private collection.
American Fantasy, probably Lebanon County, PA, circa 1840-1860, layered cut paper, original blue paper background, watercolor and lithographed applique'. Private collection.
American Fantasy, probably Lebanon County, PA, circa 1840–1860, layered cut paper, original blue paper background, watercolor and lithographed appliqué. Private collection.
Filigree - Light Blue - Home Banner

Filigree

This intricate cut paper picture was made as a gift for Julia Rush Williams in Philadelphia, circa 1836. The extraordinarily delicate and detailed cursive lettering and fine pin-pricked details remind us of lacework. Other examples of this artist’s work are in the American Folk Art Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Cutwork for Julia Rush Williams, PA, c. 1836, cut paper on colored paper backing. Private collection.
Cutwork for Julia Rush Williams, PA, circa 1836, cut paper on colored paper backing. Private collection.
Geo Ponti - Multiple Color Folded Textiles

Geo Ponti

We were inspired by the architectural composition and distinctive striped globes in this graphic and surprisingly modern watercolor, which was painted circa 1820. The result is our Geo Ponti textile design—a geometric pattern that reminds us of the work of mid-century Italian architect and designer, Gio Ponti (1891–1979)—so we named it for him!

Mizrach, attributed to Samuel Bentz (1792-1850), Lancaster County, PA, circa 1810-1830, ink and watercolor with gum Arabic on paper. Private collection
Mizrach, attributed to Samuel Bentz (1792–1850), Lancaster County, PA, circa 1810–1830, ink and watercolor with gum Arabic on paper. Private collection.
Luna Wallpaper and Cutwork Stripe Textile with Dried Apple

Luna and Cutwork Stripe

Our Luna and Cutwork Stripe designs incorporate repeating elements of this extraordinary cut paper collage with pin prick detailing made circa 1830 by Pennsylvania German folk artist Samuel Bentz (1792–1850). The piece was once owned by modernist sculptor Elie Nadelman, and a similar example is in the Winterthur Museum.

Samuel Bentz cutwork
Cutwork picture, attributed to Samuel Bentz (1792–1850), Lancaster County, PA, circa 1830, layered cut paper with pinprick detailing. Private collection.
Tete-a-tete Spring Fling Starburst

TEte-A-TEte, Spring Fling, and Starburst

The inspiration for these patterns can be found in this spirited watercolor painted in 1834 by Mennonite school master Samuel Gottschall. Faces, flourishes, stripes, and stars are hidden in the picture—can you find them?

Certificate, Samuel Gottschall (1800-1898), Montgomery County, PA. 1834, watercolor and ink with gum Arabic. Private collection.
Certificate, Samuel Gottschall (1800–1898), Montgomery County, PA, 1834, watercolor and ink with gum Arabic. Private collection.