Sampler Blankets
Year: 2004
Material: Felt, wool Technique: Needle-punch and embroidery
Dimensions: 200 x 140 cm
Commission: Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, New York
Production: Jongeriuslab
Category: One-offs
Collection: Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, New York (10), collection of the designer (3 A.P.)
At the request of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, Jongerius created a response to its collection. Her focus was the ‘samplers’: embroidered tapestries in which the crafters have illustrated their skills and techniques since 1800. The Sampler Blankets translate these motives in their needle punch technique; hollow needles are punched through two blankets, merging the fabrics. Options from the past are approached from a present-day perspective to generate new meanings. Jongerius followed this up with the Paravents, which were produced using the same technique.