See more objects with the tag color theory, color harmony, color standards.

Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

-0001

1939

  • Work on this object began.

2018

2024

  • You found it!

Bookplate, Farbmesstafel (Color Table)

This is a bookplate. It was written by Wilhelm Ostwald and published by Muster-Schmidt.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Smithsonian Libraries and Archives as part of Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

It is dated 1939. Its medium is letterpress with collage on paperboard.

Farbmesstafel is Ostwald’s color theory translated into the form of a functional color tool. It allowed for easy identification of colors when the cutout windows were held in front of an object. Published in five languages, this was one of the first universal standards used for color matching in printing.

It is credited Smithsonian Libraries, QC495.2 .O88 1939.

  • Book, Elementary Color
  • letterpress with collage on paper.
  • Gift of Walter Granville, Smithsonian Libraries, ND1489 .B811 1895.
  • 92.2016.26

Our curators have highlighted 7 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • Book, A Nomenclature of Colours
  • engraving with collage on paper.
  • Gift of the Color Association of the United States, Smithsonian Libraries,....
  • 92.2016.50
  • Sample Plate (France)
  • glazed earthenware.
  • Museum purchase from Charles E. Sampson Memorial Fund.
  • 2003-5-5

Its dimensions are

H x W: 21 × 30 cm (8 1/4 × 11 13/16 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/1108749955/ |title=Bookplate, Farbmesstafel (Color Table) |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=18 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>