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Object Timeline

-0001

1920

  • Work on this object began.

1935

  • Work on this object ended.

2004

  • We acquired this object.

2013

2014

2019

2024

  • You found it!

Scenic Wallpaper, Sea Beauties

This is a Scenic wallpaper. It was made by Ideal Wall Decoration and distributed by The Prager Company, Inc.. It is dated 1920–1935 and we acquired it in 2004. Its medium is lithograph print on paper. It is a part of the Wallcoverings department.

This charming and unusual mural, Sea Beauties (1920–40), is intended for use in a bathroom or washroom. Composed of three sections, the panels are lithographs printed for a very smooth, almost watercolor-like appearance.
We do have other scenic murals printed by lithograph in the collection, but nothing of this scale for bathrooms. At the time of proposed acquisition, in related genres, we have a sanitary paper designed by Christopher Dresser, bathroom papers designed by Edward Bawden, and vinyl papers produced during the 1960s and 1970s that could be used in washrooms as well. This mural would be a strong addition to both the scenic wallpaper and the sanitary paper holdings.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Transform Your Bathing Experience.

It is credited Gift of the family of Victor S. Robinson, Salem, New Jersey.

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Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 169.2 × 105.7 cm (5 ft. 6 5/8 in. × 41 5/8 in.)

Cite this object as

Scenic Wallpaper, Sea Beauties; Made by Ideal Wall Decoration; Distributed by The Prager Company, Inc.; Germany; lithograph print on paper; H x W x D: 169.2 × 105.7 cm (5 ft. 6 5/8 in. × 41 5/8 in.); Gift of the family of Victor S. Robinson, Salem, New Jersey; 2004-16-1

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Bathing Beautiful.

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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/18700487/ |title=Scenic Wallpaper, Sea Beauties |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=23 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>