Squirting Grapefruits and Fingerprints: Deskey's Textiles

"Squirting Grapefruit"

Donald Deskey might be a name you are familiar with, but if you can’t quite place his work, just think Radio City Music Hall.

The interior that we now think of as the quintessential expression of Art Deco design, was actually slated to be yet another over-the-top “Rococo,” movie palace. That, of course, was before a certain designer entered the design competition with a completely different vision.

From the Radio City’s website:

Deskey invested $5,000 in a spectacular presentation of the new Art Deco style that utilized glass, aluminum, chrome and geometric ornamentation, promising a modern theatre, unlike any other in New York. Deskey won the competition and was awarded the mammoth project of designing every public area in the Music Hall, including thirty lobby areas, smoking rooms, retiring rooms, foyers and lounges ...  

Deskey himself designed furniture and carpets, and he coordinated the design of railings, balustrades, signage and decorative details to complement the theatre's interior spaces. He used a brilliant combination of precious materials (including marble and gold foil), and industrial materials (including Bakelite, permatex, aluminum and cork)

The archive of Deskey’s work at the Smithsonian contains iterations of Radio City’s instrument-themed carpet, along with many other Deco delights. These playful pastel-on-black 1930s textile designs definitely took me by surprise!

"W.P.A., or Spare Time"

"Fingerprints"

"Party Ashtray"

Then there was one more pastel on black, from 1961, and about as far from a textile design as you can get. It was the sketch for New York City’s familiar streetlight!

Letters (Mostly) From Newark

Newark, New Jersey can’t help but feel grim on a gray summer Sunday. I haven’t seen much of the city beyond the route from the Newark Museum to the train station, but I know the economic downturn put a stop to what was thought be its sure rejuvenation. But there's still hope. After a severe and steady downturn in population since the 1960s, the past couple of years have seen a slight uptick. And between rescuing folks from burning buildings and dogs from frigid temperatures, who knows what Mayor Cory Booker will accomplish.

As the second largest city in the New York metro area and birthplace of Philip Roth, I hope to go back and see more of Newark--especially the intact (and not-so intact) signage before it disappears with inevitable redevelopment.

Washington Florist seems to be permanently decked out for all holidays all the time. Not only is every day Mother’s Day, but you can count on Christmas in July, and the Easter Bunny too.

Vintage 2012 Scarf

Happy 2012 to all.

So if the year is less than a week old, how, pray tell, can this NYC 2012 scarf possibly be vintage? The Oscar de la Renta piece dates all the way back to 2005 and resides in the collection of the New York Historical Society.

While the NYHS lends any item a patina of age, to confer vintage status on something not even seven years old, is still a bit of a reach. Even for the fashion cycle. But consider that it was designed for New York’s bid to host the 2012 Olympics, and that scarf starts to look like really old news. There are no doubt events from 2005 which feel like they happened yesterday, but I remember how ridiculously far off into the future the idea of the 2012 Olympics seemed at the time. Perhaps "vintage" adheres to its own laws of relativity. And so much for telling the age of a scarf from the date printed on it.

The 100 members of New York's 2012 delegation were outfitted in Oscar de la Renta for the city-selection event that took place in Singapore. According to NY1, "The attire consists of a printed NYC2012 blouse with matching printed scarf, white blazer, and navy skirt for women while the men will be wearing a navy blazer and solid blue dress shirt, a printed NYC2012 tie and white pants."

Needless to say, the NYHS is a treasure trove of the city and of the country’s past. And they’ve got newly renovated digs.
Their online scarf collection isn't exactly extensive, but here are a few to get us in the mood for another kind of competition--the presidential election this fall!

The George McGovern scarf is from 1972, the year he lost
to Nixon in a landslide. The Nixon scarf, though,
is from 1968. It is described on the site as “designed in
the "groovy" aesthetic of the 1960s…”


Carter-Mondale, undated.

Eugene McCarthy's 1968 peace campaign.


Norman Thomas was a six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America. This kerchief from 1932, includes names of Socialist Party candidates for New York State governor and NYC mayor as well.


Constitution-preamble and 10 original amendments, 1941.

The Ladies of Zagreb

Ornamentation. It’s one of the cluster traits of great Central European cities. So, along with wonderful coffee, amazing pastry, and winding streets with unpronounceable names, architectural embellishment abounds in Zagreb. Of course you’ll see garlands gargoyles and geometry. But the profusion of female figures and faces is overwhelming. So, ladies first …

Bauble Alert: Van Cleef Show Closes July 4th

Egyptian Odalisque evening bag, 1927.
Even if magnificent jewelry isn’t your thing, there’s much jaw-dropping beauty and exquisite craftsmanship to behold at the Cooper Hewitt’s Van Cleef & Arpels show. “Set in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels” is on view through July 4th. This is no ordinary bling. The legendary Place Vendôme jeweler, founded in 1906, was responsible for such design innovations as the zip necklace, and the “Mystery Setting,” which made it possible for tessellated gemstones to coat undulating surfaces, free of visible metal prongs. Also on display are original sketches, order books, and some remarkable cigarette cases, minaudières, and handbags.

The exhibition design by the Jouin Manku studio features irregularly blown-glass display orbs. They serve as organic vitrines for a cabinet of dazzling curiosities of the rich and famous, and are yet another reason to head over to the Carnegie mansion for the museum’s last show before the building’s two-year renovation begins.

Wishing you a most sparkly 4th!


Peacock box, c. 1950


Radiator lapel pin/bag clasp, 1930. The “vents” open and close


Mystery-set Peony brooch, 1937.


Lamartine earrings and bracelet of coral, amethyst and diamonds, 1970. This set, which belonged to Elizabeth Taylor, was a gift from Richard Burton, and will be auctioned by Christies this winter.


One of two Manchette Cuff Bracelets, which combined together, become a necklace. Late 1920s.


Micro-mosaic necklace.









Indu Necklace, 1950. Sketch, and the real thing.
Owned by Maharani of Baroda.