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Object Timeline

1950	Work on this object began.
1960	Work on this object ended.
1968	We acquired this object.
2006	We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2025	You found it!

Manufacturer's Color Blanket (USA)

This is a Manufacturer's color blanket. It is dated ca. 1955 and we acquired it in 1968. Its medium is synthetic and its technique is plain weave with weft floats. It is a part of the Textiles department.

A color blanket is a tool used by textile designers in the development and selection of a color palette. This blanket, woven by Craftex Mills, crosses six different warp configurations with twenty-three different weft configurations—each predominantly one color, but containing elements of accent colors as well. The result is 138 rich, tweedy, multi-colored options, each represented by one square in the blanket. The design team at Patterson Fabrics would normally have cut the blanket apart, selecting the individual color combinations they wanted to include in their collection. Typically six to twelve colorways would be put into production and offered to buyers. Luckily, this blanket remains intact as an important demonstration of process in color development.

This object was donated by Harvey Smith. It is credited Gift of Harvey Smith.