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Object Timeline

1945

  • Work on this object began.

1955

  • Work on this object ended.

1991

  • We acquired this object.

1995

2005

2024

  • You found it!

Sidewall, Wallpaper with space stations and rockets

This is a sidewall. It was made by Unknown. It is dated ca. 1950 and we acquired it in 1991. Its medium is machine printed on paper. It is a part of the Wallcoverings department.

With scenes of space stations and rockets all orbiting around planet earth space wallpapers were looking to the future. While the date of this paper is unknown it probably pre-dates Sputnik, the Soviet Union’s successful launch of the world’s first satellite in 1957. One of many wallpapers featuring space ships and astronauts designed for boys in the 1950s, these were meant to fascinate and amuse as well as to educate.

This object was donated by Suzanne Lipschutz. It is credited Gift of Suzanne Lipschutz.

Its dimensions are

H x W: 77 x 49 cm (30 5/16 x 19 5/16 in.)

It is inscribed

Printed on selvage: "WATERPROOF COLORS, RUN 3, U.W.P.C. OF N.A. UNION MADE"

Cite this object as

Sidewall, Wallpaper with space stations and rockets; Made by Unknown; USA; machine printed on paper; H x W: 77 x 49 cm (30 5/16 x 19 5/16 in.); Gift of Suzanne Lipschutz; 1991-89-133

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Kitsch to Corbusier: Wallpapers from the 1950s.

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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/18637663/ |title=Sidewall, Wallpaper with space stations and rockets |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=18 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>