Textile

In addition to his many activities as a children’s book author, illustrator, and marionette theater impresario, the multi-talented designer Tony Sarg also designed many products for children, from toys, games and puzzles to furniture, wallpapers and textiles. The 20th century saw an increasing interest in design for children, and Sarg was on the forefront of the movement, creating early interactive pop-up books like “Tony Sarg’s Treasures” (in the library’s rare book collection), and children’s wallpapers based on his illustrations for classics like Alice in Wonderland, also in the museum’s collection.
This textile, printed on cotton in a design of circus animals and balloons, was probably intended for a child’s bedroom. Sarg had a particular talent for creating whimsical animal characters to entertain young readers of his books. However, two examples of Sarg’s textile designs already in the museum’s collection are printed on silk crepe de chine, suggesting that his intricate and amusing patterns held appeal for adults as well.

Textile; Designed by Tony Sarg (American, 1882–1942); cotton; H x W: 223.5 × 90.2 cm (7 ft. 4 in. × 35 1/2 in.); American Textile History Museum Collection; 2016-35-106