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Object Timeline
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1921 |
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1992 |
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Sidewall, The Birches
This is a sidewall. It was created by Charles Burchfield and designed by Charles Burchfield and manufactured by M.H. Birge & Sons Co.. It is dated 1921 and we acquired it in 1992. Its medium is machine-printed paper, embossed. It is a part of the Wallcoverings department.
Cool Weather Calm
With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season coming to an end, and the end of the year upon us, it is always nice to have a moment of reflection and calm before jumping into the New Year. This wallpaper, aptly entitled “The Birches”, seems to echo such a sentiment with its cool color pallet and meandering lines. Rows of birch trees weave across the composition of the paper as blue branches and white, leave-like motif’s are weaved throughout. A light dusting of snow sits upon the branches and forest floor that pokes through the dunes of white in swirls of light brown. Far away from the noise and lights of the city, it is easy to imagine oneself walking among the trees, bathed in dappled light that filters through the multicolored branches.
“The Birches” was designed by Charles Burchfield who is known for his watercolor paintings which he produced during the 20th century. In the 1920’s he began designing wallpapers for wallpaper firm M. H. Birge and Sons. He started working with the firm in 1921 and continued creating wallpaper designs for them until around 1929. M. H. Birge and Sons started as a firm in 1834 and was well-known for their production of imitation leather papers during the early 1900’s. A paper such as the one seen here would most likely have been installed in a sitting or dining room.
Emily Ewen is a student in the History of Design & Curatorial Studies graduate program at the Cooper Hewitt, and is a Master’s Fellow in the Wallcoverings Department.
This object was
donated by
Ms. Edna Lindemann.
It is credited Gift of Edna Lindemann.
- Sidewall, Modernistic
- machine-printed paper, embossed.
- Gift of Edna Lindemann.
- 1992-109-3
Its dimensions are
80.5 x 50.5 cm (31 11/16 x 19 7/8 in. )
It is inscribed
Printed in left selvedge: "Birge - Made in U.S.A. 1186"
Cite this object as
Sidewall, The Birches; Charles Burchfield (1893 – 1967); Manufactured by M.H. Birge & Sons Co. (United States); USA; machine-printed paper, embossed; 80.5 x 50.5 cm (31 11/16 x 19 7/8 in. ); Gift of Edna Lindemann; 1992-109-1
This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibitions Artist's Designed Wallpapers and Rooms with a View: Landscape & Wallpaper.
