Author: Erica Schaumberg

SORT BY:
Image features a book opened to a pop-up paper construction of a black and white fishing trawler balanced on a house of cards decorated with playing card suits and a fish-as-joker motif, and images of fishes, all resting on a page spread printed with the netting and the poem "House of Cods."
House of Cods
In  recognition of  Smithsonian’s Earth Optimism Digital Summit  (April 22 – 26, 2020), this week’s post features a work from the  Design Library, focused on environmental issues. The artist’s  book,  House of Cods, published by  Linda Smith and Picnic Press  in 1996, presents an engaging use of the book as a  form  of artistic expression, here addressing the environmental impact of ...
Read Time
3 minutes
Posted By
Erica Schaumberg
Date
April 27, 2020
Selling Victorian Wallpaper
The wallpaper manufacturer, Jeffrey & Co. published the trade catalog, The “Victorian” wall-papers, embossed leather-papers, staircase decorations, ceiling papers, detailing their collection of wallpapers, in 1887. Based at 64 Essex Road in London, the firm worked with a variety of designers who were active in the aesthetic and arts and crafts movements, such as E.W....
Read Time
3 minutes
Posted By
Erica Schaumberg
Date
November 13, 2019
Image features the cover of the book, Gran Baile de Calaveras, un Libro Túnel, a yellow, orange, and green rectangular frame surrounding an image of a gathering of skeletons in brightly hued clothing dancing, socializing, and celebrating. Please scroll down to read the blog post about this object.
Celebrating The Day of the Dead
The Day of the Dead is celebrated in the publication, Gran Baile de Calaveras, un Libro Túnel [The Dancing Skeletons Tunnel Book], by Joan Sommers, a work in the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Library. The book is a concertina-like folding form, composed of five separate scenes, each on a different panel. When viewed through the...
Read Time
2 minutes
Posted By
Erica Schaumberg
Date
October 31, 2019
Image features Signed lithograph depicting a walled ancient city that is being transformed by modern technology. Please scroll down to read the blog post about this object
A Love Letter to San Juan
In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15, 2019), this week’s Object Of The Day posts celebrate Latinx designers’ works in the collection.   The Puerto Rican Commission for the Celebration of the Year 2000 in San Juan organized the publication of La Ciudad Infinita: Versiones de San Juan. The book highlights the...
Read Time
3 minutes
Posted By
Erica Schaumberg
Date
October 7, 2019
Image features a print showing an allegorical figure of winter, a be-robed and bearded muscular old man, standing, leaning to his right, warming himself above the fire in a container at his feet. Please scroll down to read the blog post about this object.
Sculptures Fit for a King
The book, Recueil des figures, groupes, thermes, fontaines, vases, et autres ornemens tels qu’ils se voyent a present dans le Château et Parc de Versailles / / gravé d’apres les originaux par Simon Thomassin, graveur du Roy provides a comprehensive catalogue of the sculptures within the gardens at the Palace of  Versailles. Authored and published...
Read Time
2 minutes
Posted By
Erica Schaumberg
Date
April 30, 2019