do you think there's a future for mid-century linens?

[grasswire]

And if so, do you have any recommendations for what to buy?

I know the Vera stuff has become popular. And of course the bright-colored kitchen linens of the 1940s-50s. And the Wilendurs, the barkcloth, the atomic patterns, the poodles, etc.

But moving forward to the sixties -- what's hot from that era in better linens? I've seen some geometric, subtle tablecloths in colors such as gray/soft yellow. What else?

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. Kitchen calendar towels?

Many were made of Irish linen.

And, the other kitchen linens depicting food and wine were popular.

I think BBQ became a big deal back then with all sorts of table and outdoor linens.
http://gypsyrosalie.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=81&zenid=34abf461c46004b671b699ba1f60771a

Here's a site that shows some 1960s fabrics:
http://www.thebrighton.demon.co.uk/a-sixties.htm

[grasswire]

6. oh, and then there were mushrooms and owls

Browns and golds. I wonder if that stuff will ever be sought after.

[zabet]

2. I have noticed that

draperies in the mid-century modern/eames era patterns
bring decent prices (I bid on several sets on ebay and
have failed to win one yet). Certain small rugs and
runners also do pretty well. I sold a 6' runner with a
mod geometric design from the 60s for $50.
I love the atomic designs, I just bought a set of libby
atomic fish glasses - I am going to keep these!

[grasswire]

4. I love those atomic designs, too

I recall my aunt and uncle's home in the 1960s -- they still had all those triangular lamps and asymmetrical tables and gray and pink stuff. Crazy stuff with space designs. It's really fun.

[demgrrrll]

3. Russell Wright designed tablecloths for one of the major manufacturers

those sell well. They look very plain and are easy to miss, wish I could think of the manufacuturers name I keep wanting to write Simtex or something like that. If you are at a sale and find some unused 60's mod sheets flower power type in the original package, I think those are still selling well too. Peter Max towels etc sell well I think. There was a designer who made those cloth wall hangings I will have to get back to you on that I think, Marimoto? On edit, it is Merimekko. You would know them in a minute if you saw them. This is off the top of my head I will look into this further and get back to the thread.

Danish Modern Rugs sell well too I also think it is sometimes easy to miss something you are standing on in an estate sale unless you really are looking!

[grasswire]

5. ah, flower power

That's something to look for.

[sufrommich]

9. Marimekko is a finnish fabric company

that has always had a fervent collectors market. I think they retire a lot of their patterns.It's expensive even when new. I'm a thrift store junkie and have never seen it make it to the thrifts. That doesn't mean it never shows up,but if it does,it's scooped up immediately.

[demgrrrll]

14. Before I knew Marimekko I went to a fabulous high end estate sale

they had some of the fabric wall hangings. I still remember them. I looked at them and did not buy them. Live and learn. They did some Samsonite, I think suitcases in black and white. Those pop up from time to time. Someone I know came upon a whole pile of fabric at an estate sale. You never know.

[sufrommich]

16. I never thought of looking for their suitcases

another thing I'll have to add to the list.I guess we all can look back at things we should have bought and didn't.I can't tell you how much pottery I overlooked before I knew what I was looking at. I need a "wayback machine".x(

[Whoa_Nelly]

7. Mondrian (and other '60s stuff site)

http://www.paperpast.com/html/1965_fashion.html

1965

[sufrommich]

11. Whoa, do you own that Mondrian dress?

It's got to be worth quite a bit.

[Whoa_Nelly]

12. Just a pic found on the Internet

Trust me, if I had that dress, would be seeking a reputable auction site!

[sandnsea]

8. all natural fabrics

I think anything that can be proven that it was made in a time where everything was chemical free will be in great demand in the future. That and maybe some of the natural jutes and bamboos and gauzy fabrics of the 70's.

[sufrommich]

10. If the trends follow the eras, I would start looking

for "flower power" era stuff. Anything psychedelic or "organic" looking. I'm no expert on fabric(or anything else) ,but I certainly would buy Peter Max era linens if I stumbled across them.

[Vinca]

13. Anything designed by Peter Max is usually pretty good.

I don't know if he did anything with linens in the 60's, but I found a tote bag from the 80's. I'm always looking for wild, psychedelic anything. I haven't run into much in the way of linens . . . maybe that's because we were a bunch of hippie slobs who just grabbed paper towels. I'd sure love to find that Mondrian dress! Or the Andy Warhol tomato soup dress. Hmmm - I wonder if Warhol did any linens?

[sufrommich]

15. If I remember correctly

Peter Max sold his soul once he hit it big and sold his designs to all comers. It seemed to me that you could buy Peter Max anything back in the day. Didn't he design a 7-up can and advertising logo? It always amazes me that it's so hard to find now.I remember it being everywhere in the late 60s,early 70s.All psychedelia seems hard to find.

[demgrrrll]

17. He did towels in the Astra pattern, other linens, beach towels,

pillow cases, maybe sheets. I remember buying astra towels as a wedding gift for one of my friends back in the day. He did tin trays and loads of stuff and I agree, you should be seeing it everyday but I sure don't.