Paule Marrot
Encyclopedia
Paule Marrot was a Paris
ian textile designer widely known for her textile prints with a flat, two-dimensional, upbeat style — often with a floral pattern. She experienced strong popularity in the U.S. after World War II, worked with Renault
to develop the company's textile and color division, and redefined furnishing fabrics in her native country of France
.
Marrot won the Prix Blumenthal
in 1928 and in 1952, the French Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honor)
, as Chevalier.
on 17 April 1902, — to a bohemian family with a musician father — Marrot attended L’école des Arts Décoratifs
in Paris at age 14 and in 1917 apprenticed in engraving and textile printing with Pierre Léon Dusouchet. Marrot became a teacher and was selling some of her original textile designs when she met Raoul Dufy
, a Fauvist
painter, who in turn introduced her to Paul Poiret
, a prominent fashion designer at the time — to whom Marrot subsequently sold a dress design — and ultimately fabric for his work.
In 1924 she was admitted to the Société des artistes décorateurs (the Society of Decorative Artists), and married her childhood friend, Paul Angelloz, who became her business manager.
In 1925 she won a gold medal for her contributions to the Worlds Fair's Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes.
Winning the Prix Blumenthal
in 1928 allowed Marrot to open her workshop in Batignolles
on rue Truffaut — where she became widely known for furniture textiles.
In 1932 her work was exhibited in the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs show came to the attention of Jean Schlumberger, an Alsacian texile manufacturer with Manufacture Steiner de Ribeauvillé. Schlumberger became her exclusive printer and a devoted friend for 30 years until his death in 1963. Together they produced over 320 fabric designs and numerous table linens. Marrot moved her operation to rue des Arcades in 1936.
After the war, she reopened the rue des Arcades store and in 1945 resumed production with Ribeauvillé. Working with Margaret Owen, she established the import of her textiles to the USA — Jacqueline Kennedy subsequently designing a living room around Marrot's Les Tulipes cotton print. From 1953-1965, Marrot consulted with Renault
, prioritizing color and fabric coordination for the company and establishing their interior and exterior paint and textile labs.
In May, 1959 she exhibited her she work at Stockholm's Artek
gallery, which had distributed her line of 104 printed fabrics and 28 tablecloths since 1935. From 1961 to 1968 Marrot collaborated with Zofia Rostand, whose student she had been in 1960.
In 1973, Marrot exhibited 82 fabrics and tablecloths at the Exposition au Musée d’impression sur Etoffe de Mulhouse (Museum of Printed Textiles at Mulhouse), working with Fauve
painter Raoul Dufy
.
Paule Marrot died on December 22, 1987.
Licensing and posthumous career
1999 saw the creation of Editions Paule Marrot Ltd which was became SAS Editions Paule Marrot in 2002, reissuing more than 320 fabrics from Marrot's career along with numerous tablecloths and towel designs, a total of more than 450 designs.
In 2005, Carolina Irving wrote a story about Marrot for Better Homes and Gardens
and in 1997 the Museum of Printed Textiles at Mulhouse held a retrospective of her work.
Marrot designs have since been used extensively under license by companies as diverse as Nike
, Anthropologie
and the handbag maker, Hayden-Harnett
. In 1952, she won the Legion of Honor.
In 1950, the president of General Motors
had visited automobile manufacturer Renault
, noting the cars' drab colors, inside and out. According to Renault's own preliminary research for the upcoming Dauphine
, a 1951 survey had shown that women held stronger opinions on a car's colors than the car itself. Coincidentally, Marrot had written a letter to Renault's chairman, Pierre Lefaucheux
, giving her opinion that the postwar cars of Paris were a uniformly somber parade — and wondering whether an artist could not help find fresh, vibrant colors.
Convinced of her value to the project, Pierre Lefaucheux
made her a member of the Dauphine team — "to rid Renault of their stuffy image. After decades of being dipped in various shades of black and grey, car bodies [would be] painted in happy pastels."
Working with four others, Marrot proposed new body and interior colors after setting up a new test laboratory to measure fabric wear as well as paint wear and uniformity. The new colors contrasted with the colors from the competition, the Peugeot 203
and Simca Aronde
, including bright colors with evocative names including Rouge Montijo, Jaune Bahamas, Bleu Hoggar and Blanc Réja. Marrot and her team then developed complementary interior fabrics for the seats and door panels, turning to Paris' large textile houses.
Marrot also designed the Dauphine's emblem, with three dolphins over a crown, which would adorn the Dauphine's steering wheel and hood throughout its production. Over 2 million Dauphines were produced in its production run of 10 years, each bearing Marrot's imprint.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
ian textile designer widely known for her textile prints with a flat, two-dimensional, upbeat style — often with a floral pattern. She experienced strong popularity in the U.S. after World War II, worked with Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
to develop the company's textile and color division, and redefined furnishing fabrics in her native country of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Marrot won the Prix Blumenthal
Prix Blumenthal
The Prix Blumenthal was a grant or stipend awarded through the philanthropy of Florence Meyer Blumenthal — and the foundation she created, Fondation franco-américaine Florence Blumenthal — to discover young French artists, aid them financially, and in the process draw the United States...
in 1928 and in 1952, the French Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honor)
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, as Chevalier.
Biography
Born Paule Félicie Hélène Marrot in BordeauxBordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
on 17 April 1902, — to a bohemian family with a musician father — Marrot attended L’école des Arts Décoratifs
École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs
The École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs is a public university of art and design and is one of the most prestigious French grande école...
in Paris at age 14 and in 1917 apprenticed in engraving and textile printing with Pierre Léon Dusouchet. Marrot became a teacher and was selling some of her original textile designs when she met Raoul Dufy
Raoul Dufy
Raoul Dufy[p] was a French Fauvist painter. He developed a colorful, decorative style that became fashionable for designs of ceramics and textiles, as well as decorative schemes for public buildings. He is noted for scenes of open-air social events...
, a Fauvist
Fauvism
Fauvism is the style of les Fauves , a short-lived and loose group of early twentieth-century Modern artists whose works emphasized painterly qualities and strong colour over the representational or realistic values retained by Impressionism...
painter, who in turn introduced her to Paul Poiret
Paul Poiret
Paul Poiret was a French fashion designer. His contributions to twentieth-century fashion have been likened to Picasso's contributions to twentieth-century art.-Early life and career:...
, a prominent fashion designer at the time — to whom Marrot subsequently sold a dress design — and ultimately fabric for his work.
In 1924 she was admitted to the Société des artistes décorateurs (the Society of Decorative Artists), and married her childhood friend, Paul Angelloz, who became her business manager.
In 1925 she won a gold medal for her contributions to the Worlds Fair's Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes.
Winning the Prix Blumenthal
Prix Blumenthal
The Prix Blumenthal was a grant or stipend awarded through the philanthropy of Florence Meyer Blumenthal — and the foundation she created, Fondation franco-américaine Florence Blumenthal — to discover young French artists, aid them financially, and in the process draw the United States...
in 1928 allowed Marrot to open her workshop in Batignolles
Batignolles
Batignolles is a neighborhood of Paris, a part of the 17th arrondissement of the city. The neighborhood is bounded on the south by the Boulevard des Batignolles, on the east by the Avenue de Clichy, on the north by the Rue Cardinet, and on the west by the Rue de Rome.-History:Batignolles was an...
on rue Truffaut — where she became widely known for furniture textiles.
In 1932 her work was exhibited in the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs show came to the attention of Jean Schlumberger, an Alsacian texile manufacturer with Manufacture Steiner de Ribeauvillé. Schlumberger became her exclusive printer and a devoted friend for 30 years until his death in 1963. Together they produced over 320 fabric designs and numerous table linens. Marrot moved her operation to rue des Arcades in 1936.
After the war, she reopened the rue des Arcades store and in 1945 resumed production with Ribeauvillé. Working with Margaret Owen, she established the import of her textiles to the USA — Jacqueline Kennedy subsequently designing a living room around Marrot's Les Tulipes cotton print. From 1953-1965, Marrot consulted with Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
, prioritizing color and fabric coordination for the company and establishing their interior and exterior paint and textile labs.
In May, 1959 she exhibited her she work at Stockholm's Artek
Artek (company)
Artek is a Finnish furniture company. It was founded in December 1935 by architect Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino Aalto, visual arts promoter Maire Gullichsen and art historian Nils-Gustav Hahl. The founders chose a non-Finnish name, the neologism Artek was meant to manifest the desire to combine...
gallery, which had distributed her line of 104 printed fabrics and 28 tablecloths since 1935. From 1961 to 1968 Marrot collaborated with Zofia Rostand, whose student she had been in 1960.
In 1973, Marrot exhibited 82 fabrics and tablecloths at the Exposition au Musée d’impression sur Etoffe de Mulhouse (Museum of Printed Textiles at Mulhouse), working with Fauve
Fauve
Fauve may refer to:* Fauve , American comics artist* Fauve , a short legged hunting breed of dog* Fauvism, a short-lived and loose grouping of early 20th century modern art* Fauve Software, a defunct software company...
painter Raoul Dufy
Raoul Dufy
Raoul Dufy[p] was a French Fauvist painter. He developed a colorful, decorative style that became fashionable for designs of ceramics and textiles, as well as decorative schemes for public buildings. He is noted for scenes of open-air social events...
.
Paule Marrot died on December 22, 1987.
Licensing and posthumous career
1999 saw the creation of Editions Paule Marrot Ltd which was became SAS Editions Paule Marrot in 2002, reissuing more than 320 fabrics from Marrot's career along with numerous tablecloths and towel designs, a total of more than 450 designs.
In 2005, Carolina Irving wrote a story about Marrot for Better Homes and Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens (magazine)
Better Homes and Gardens is the fourth best selling magazine in the United States. The editor in Chief is Gayle Butler. Better Homes and Gardens focuses on interests regarding homes, cooking, gardening, crafts, healthy living, decorating, and entertaining. The magazine is published 12 times per...
and in 1997 the Museum of Printed Textiles at Mulhouse held a retrospective of her work.
Marrot designs have since been used extensively under license by companies as diverse as Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, Anthropologie
Urban Outfitters
Urban Outfitters, Inc. is a publicly traded American company that owns and operates five retail brands: Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, Terrain, and BHLDN....
and the handbag maker, Hayden-Harnett
Hayden-Harnett
Hayden-Harnett is a Brooklyn-based fashion company that produces handbags, accessories, and apparel, founded by Toni Hacker and Benjamin Harnett in 2005. Hayden-Harnett was recently chosen by Target Corporation to design a limited edition national diffusion collection for spring 2009 delivery at...
. In 1952, she won the Legion of Honor.
Marrot at Renault
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
had visited automobile manufacturer Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
, noting the cars' drab colors, inside and out. According to Renault's own preliminary research for the upcoming Dauphine
Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine is a rear-engined economy car manufactured by Renault in one body style — a three-box, four-door sedan — as the successor to the Renault 4CV, with over two million examples marketed worldwide during its production from 1956-1967....
, a 1951 survey had shown that women held stronger opinions on a car's colors than the car itself. Coincidentally, Marrot had written a letter to Renault's chairman, Pierre Lefaucheux
Pierre Lefaucheux
Pierre Lefaucheux was a leading French industrialist and a Compagnon de la Libération. -Early years:Born at Triel-sur-Seine, and descended from the French inventor Casimir Lefaucheux, Pierre was second of the four children of Pierre André Lefaucheux and Madeleine Dulac.He volunteered for military...
, giving her opinion that the postwar cars of Paris were a uniformly somber parade — and wondering whether an artist could not help find fresh, vibrant colors.
Convinced of her value to the project, Pierre Lefaucheux
Pierre Lefaucheux
Pierre Lefaucheux was a leading French industrialist and a Compagnon de la Libération. -Early years:Born at Triel-sur-Seine, and descended from the French inventor Casimir Lefaucheux, Pierre was second of the four children of Pierre André Lefaucheux and Madeleine Dulac.He volunteered for military...
made her a member of the Dauphine team — "to rid Renault of their stuffy image. After decades of being dipped in various shades of black and grey, car bodies [would be] painted in happy pastels."
Working with four others, Marrot proposed new body and interior colors after setting up a new test laboratory to measure fabric wear as well as paint wear and uniformity. The new colors contrasted with the colors from the competition, the Peugeot 203
Peugeot 203
The Peugeot 203 is a medium sized car which was produced by the French manufacturer Peugeot between 1948 and 1960.The car was exhibited at the Paris Motor Show in 1947, but by then had already been under development for more than five years...
and Simca Aronde
Simca Aronde
The Simca Aronde was a family car manufactured by the French automaker Simca from 1951 to 1963. It was Simca's first original design , as well as the company's first unibody car...
, including bright colors with evocative names including Rouge Montijo, Jaune Bahamas, Bleu Hoggar and Blanc Réja. Marrot and her team then developed complementary interior fabrics for the seats and door panels, turning to Paris' large textile houses.
Marrot also designed the Dauphine's emblem, with three dolphins over a crown, which would adorn the Dauphine's steering wheel and hood throughout its production. Over 2 million Dauphines were produced in its production run of 10 years, each bearing Marrot's imprint.
See also
- Renault DauphineRenault DauphineRenault Dauphine is a rear-engined economy car manufactured by Renault in one body style — a three-box, four-door sedan — as the successor to the Renault 4CV, with over two million examples marketed worldwide during its production from 1956-1967....
- Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honor)Légion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
- Prix BlumenthalPrix BlumenthalThe Prix Blumenthal was a grant or stipend awarded through the philanthropy of Florence Meyer Blumenthal — and the foundation she created, Fondation franco-américaine Florence Blumenthal — to discover young French artists, aid them financially, and in the process draw the United States...