Astrid Sampe
Encyclopedia
Astrid Sampe was a Swedish textile design
er who for a large part of her professional life was affiliated with the textile department at Nordiska Kompaniet
but also worked for several other textile producers.
Sampe studied at Konstfack
in Stockholm and later at the Royal College of Art
in London, and in 1937, she started working as a designer for Nordiska Kompaniet. A year later she became head of Nordiska Kompaniet's textile design department (Textilkammaren) and remained so until 1971.
She was very successful at the World Fairs in Paris 1937
and in New York 1939
. For the exhibition in New York she worked on the design of the Swedish Pavilion together with the architect Sven Markelius
. She produced a number of influential designs and also connected many successful designers, architects and artists to Nordiska Kompaniet's textile department. Among these people are famous Danish designer Arne Jacobsen
and Swedish designer Stig Lindberg
. In 1972 Astrid Sampe retired from Nordiska Kompaniet and established her own studio in Stockholm.
Astrid Sampe was an innovative designer who designed modern textiles for industrial production while still preserving and extending the traditions of Nordic textile design. She was the first designer in Sweden to experiment with fibreglass cloth and also to use data based patterns. In 1955 she produced several designs for domestic linens with geometric patterns and folk-inspired motifs that became a huge success. Astrid Sampe designed products for a number of Swedish textile companies such as Kasthall and Almedahls, and her designs include Liljerand, Liljeruta, and Versailles. She also designed for Knoll International in New York and Donald Brothers in Dundee. Some of her textiles are still in production.
In 1949 Astrid Sampe co-wrote the book Textiles Illustrated with Vera Diurson. A year later she was elected an honorary member of the Royal Designers for Industry
in London. In 1954 she was awarded a Grand Prix at the Triennale
in Milan and in 1956 she received the Gregor Paulsson Trophy.
Textile design
Textile design is the process of creating designs and structures for knitted, woven, non-woven or embellishments of fabrics.Textile designing involves producing patterns for cloth used in clothing, household textiles and decorative textiles such as carpets. The field encompasses the actual pattern...
er who for a large part of her professional life was affiliated with the textile department at Nordiska Kompaniet
Nordiska Kompaniet
Nordiska Kompaniet is the name of two department stores located in Stockholm and Gothenburg, in Sweden....
but also worked for several other textile producers.
Sampe studied at Konstfack
Konstfack
Konstfack or University College of Arts, Crafts and Design is a university college for higher education in the area of art, crafts and design in Stockholm, Sweden.- History :...
in Stockholm and later at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
in London, and in 1937, she started working as a designer for Nordiska Kompaniet. A year later she became head of Nordiska Kompaniet's textile design department (Textilkammaren) and remained so until 1971.
She was very successful at the World Fairs in Paris 1937
Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne (1937)
The Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne was held from May 25 to November 25, 1937 in Paris, France...
and in New York 1939
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
. For the exhibition in New York she worked on the design of the Swedish Pavilion together with the architect Sven Markelius
Sven Markelius
Sven Gottfrid Markelius was one of the most important modernist Swedish architects. Markelius played an important role in the post-war urban planning of Stockholm, for example in the creation of the model suburb of Vällingby .Born in Stockholm in October 1889, he attended the Royal Institute of...
. She produced a number of influential designs and also connected many successful designers, architects and artists to Nordiska Kompaniet's textile department. Among these people are famous Danish designer Arne Jacobsen
Arne Jacobsen
Arne Emil Jacobsen, usually known as Arne Jacobsen, was a Danish architect and designer. He is remembered for contributing so much to architectural Functionalism as well as for the worldwide success he enjoyed with simple but effective chair designs.-Early life and education:Arne Jacobsen was born...
and Swedish designer Stig Lindberg
Stig Lindberg
Stig Lindberg was a Swedish ceramic designer, glass designer, textile designer, industrial designer, painter, and illustrator....
. In 1972 Astrid Sampe retired from Nordiska Kompaniet and established her own studio in Stockholm.
Astrid Sampe was an innovative designer who designed modern textiles for industrial production while still preserving and extending the traditions of Nordic textile design. She was the first designer in Sweden to experiment with fibreglass cloth and also to use data based patterns. In 1955 she produced several designs for domestic linens with geometric patterns and folk-inspired motifs that became a huge success. Astrid Sampe designed products for a number of Swedish textile companies such as Kasthall and Almedahls, and her designs include Liljerand, Liljeruta, and Versailles. She also designed for Knoll International in New York and Donald Brothers in Dundee. Some of her textiles are still in production.
In 1949 Astrid Sampe co-wrote the book Textiles Illustrated with Vera Diurson. A year later she was elected an honorary member of the Royal Designers for Industry
Royal Designers for Industry
Royal Designer for Industry is a distinction established by the British Royal Society of Arts in 1936, to encourage a high standard of industrial design and enhance the status of designers. It is awarded to people who have achieved "sustained excellence in aesthetic and efficient design for...
in London. In 1954 she was awarded a Grand Prix at the Triennale
Triennale
La Triennale di Milano is a design museum and events venue in Milan, Italy, located inside the Palace of Art building, part of Parco Sempione, the park grounds adjacent to Castello Sforzesco. It hosts exhibitions and events which highlight contemporary Italian design, urban planning, architecture,...
in Milan and in 1956 she received the Gregor Paulsson Trophy.