Description
Rare and collectible, this signed 1966 piece by great 20th century French artist and fabric designer Suzanne Fontan translates to “Brand New Springtime,” possibly after the 1953 French song of the same name by Charles Aznavour. Curiously the piece says it’s drawn by Suzanne for Victor Coates. Unfortunately I couldn’t find anything on Coates.
Fontan worked with the great French wallpaper and fabric house Nobilis in the 1930s which, according to Lesley Jackson, author of “Twentieth Century Pattern Design,” became Nobilis-Fontan after World War II because of the addition of Suzanne’s unique contributions in style and her drawings and designs on paper and fabric. Nobilis honored her by keeping her signature on the papers and fabrics she made. Nobilis has since returned to the solo name.
Fontan was married to the painter Pierre Adrien Ekman. Made in France.
Colors of pink, fuschia, black, canary yellow, burnt orange, chartreuse, olive and army green, shades of khaki, and black. NOTE: The background is off white natural, NOT bright white.
Size: 25.5″ wide + 3″ right selvedge x 36.5″ long.
Fiber: 100% cotton.
CONDITION: Excellent — however there is one small color blur where just under a flower the color pulled away. In spite of this slight flaw (understandable for a 53 year old piece) it is in overall excellent condition.
“…we have never looked upon ourselves as ‘dealers in textiles.’ We regard textiles simply as one means of artistic expression…” — Theodore Greeff, President, Greeff Fabrics, Inc.
Maker: Greeff Fabrics, Inc was founded in the US by Theodore Greeff in 1933 to make a wide range of mostly traditional style interior fabrics and wallcoverings, grouped in collections, for high-end interior designers. Jackson’s book points to Marion Dorn, John Little, Dan Rasmassen, and Dagmar Wilson as key designers from the 1940s and after.
