Mimosa thumbnail 1
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Mimosa

Carpet
1949-51 (designed), 1951 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Machine-woven Axminster wool carpet woven with a design of undulating petalled forms in vibrant yellow, deep black, and blues against shades of brown and red.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMimosa (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Wool carpet, machine Axminster weave
Brief description
1950, USA; Matisse, Henri for Alexander Smith Inc.
Physical description
Machine-woven Axminster wool carpet woven with a design of undulating petalled forms in vibrant yellow, deep black, and blues against shades of brown and red.
Dimensions
  • Height: 148.6cm
  • Width: 91.9cm
  • Pile depth: 7cm
Production typeLimited edition
Marks and inscriptions
This rug designed by H.Matisse and named Mimosa by him, has been woven by Alexander Smith in a limited edition of 500 of which this is number 256 (Printed cotton label attached to reverse of rug)
Object history
This rug is reportedly the only design that Matisse specifically created for use as a carpet. It was based on a cut-paper collage he made in 1949, with 1951 revisions.

One of these rugs was exhibited by the St Louis Art Museum in 1977. In their catalogue the curator suggests the theme of the rug may derive from the Festival of Flowers in Nice, with its floats and parades. The mimosa is a key flower in this festival.
Production
Attribution note: One of 500
Bibliographic reference
Henri Matisse: Paper Cut-Outs. St. Louis: The St. Louis Art Museum, 1977.
Other number
256 - Limited Edition Number
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.106-1954

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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