Calyx
Lucienne Day’s fabric for the Festival of Britain: abstract flowers that gave post-war homes new patterns.
Lucienne Day designed Calyx for the Festival of Britain in 1951, where her husband Robin Day showed furniture. The fabric was a success and won a prize at the Milan Triennale the same year.
The pattern shows the abstract, light visual language of the post-war years, related to the painting of Joan Miró and Paul Klee. It is protected by copyright, so only a drawing is shown.
Materials: Screen-printed linen
Manufacture: Printed by Heal’s in London for the 1951 exhibition.
Thin, straight stems like lines.
Flowers like cups or calyxes, inspired by abstract art.
Warm colours: ochre, orange and black on a pale ground.