Fabulous Fabrics of the 50s (and Other Terrific Textiles of the 20s, 30s, & 40s) [Paperback]

Gideon Bosker (Author), Michele Mancini (Author), John Gramstad (Author), Bruce Beaton (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2002

Now reissued with a striking new cover, Fabulous Fabrics of the 50s is the classic guide to the textiles of the exuberant post-war era, a time when bold new patterns and unprecedented color combinations revitalized dcor. Designs based on science and fantasy proliferated; no home was complete without boomerang-patterned drapes slung across the picture window or a cowboy-print couch in the living room. In this nostalgia-packed celebration of textile design, more than 170 full-color photographs accompany lively text and detailed captions highlighting the playful patterns of the 50s. Their genesis is revealed in equally fabulous fabrics from earlier eras, such as jaunty nautical designs from the 40s, over-blown florals of the 30s, and the deco-inspired prints of the 20s. A must-have resource book for collectors, designers, decorators, artists, style mavens, and pop-culture buffs, Fabulous Fabrics of the 50s is a chic and colorful tribute to a fascinating era in textile design.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fabulous Fabrics of the '50s )and Other Terrific Textiles of the '20s, '30s and '40s)," by Gideon Bosker, Michele Mancini and John Gramstad, gives us yet another of this publisher's definitive glimpses of the pop-culture past. Warning: Grandma's-house-flashbacks ahead. With its great images of birch-bark weaves, wafflecloth, barkcloth, pima cotton and much, much more, you will want to run your fingers over the pages but, alas, samples aren't included.

The authors are vintage textile collectors and purveyors, and they trace the evolution of the fabrics as patterns exploded accroding to the thmese and trends of the era. --Seattle Post-Intelligencer Seattle Post-Intelligencer2

"Fabulous Fabrics of the '50s )and Other Terrific Textiles of the '20s, '30s and '40s)," by Gideon Bosker, Michele Mancini and John Gramstad, gives us yet another of this publisher's definitive glimpses of the pop-culture past. Warning: Grandma's-house-flashbacks ahead. With its great images of birch-bark weaves, wafflecloth, barkcloth, pima cotton and much, much more, you will want to run your fingers over the pages but, alas, samples aren't included.

The authors are vintage textile collectors and purveyors, and they trace the evolution of the fabrics as patterns exploded accroding to the thmese and trends of the era. --Seattle Post-Intelligencer

About the Author

Gideon Bosker is an award-winning author, photographer, travel writer, and pop culture connoisseur. He has collaborated on numerous books, including Highballs High Heels (0-8118-3017-9) and Beaches (0-8118-2650-3).

Michele Mancini is a well-known designer and purveyor of vintage fabrics. She and her work have been featured in articles in Metropolitan Home, HG, Elle, and the New York Times.

John Gramstad is a textile collector who lives in Portland, Oregon. He sells his fabrics all over the world.

Bruce Beaton is a freelance photographer who lives in Portland, Oregon.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (May 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811835200
• ISBN-13: 978-0811835206
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,426,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Fabrics of the 50s, April 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fabulous Fabrics of the 50s: And Other Terrific Textiles of the 20s, 30s and 40s (Paperback)

If you are as passionate as myself for the American curtain and upholstry fabrics of the mid 20th century, you will want to have this book. The photographs of these bold and colorfull textiles are so well desplayed throughout the book it is almost a book of fabric art as well as an excellent reference. The text covers where the designs originated as well as the who, what, when and where that influenced the changes of the textures and designs from the 1920s through the 1950s.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's True - FABULOUS FABRIC ~ FABULOUS BOOK!, June 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fabulous Fabrics of the 50s: And Other Terrific Textiles of the 20s, 30s and 40s (Paperback)

This is my first online book purchase. I am so impressed with this book. The photos leave nothing to the imagination. Clear and concise from page 1 all the way through to page 117. This book is a must have for every textile collector, buyer, seller.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not quite all that it boasts in the title ..., June 23, 2006

By 

M. Arendsee - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fabulous Fabrics of the 50s: And Other Terrific Textiles of the 20s, 30s and 40s (Paperback)

It was a wonderful book full of great images ... I would say that the title should be revised to read "florals of the 40's (and other terrific florals of the 20's and 30's)" as that is what a majority of the book is. Based on the cover and title I would have expected that more than a 1/3rd of the book should have been dedicated to the 50's.