Showpieces – table damask from Art Nouveau to the Amsterdam School

L.A. Kortenhorst, table linen and pattern drawing Distel en Atalanta (79), linnen, 1915 – 1924, W.J. van Hoogerwou & Zonen (Boxtel)

Nature as inspiration

Every year, well-to-do women bought Chris Lebeau’s latest designs, which were produced for decades by the linen and damask manufacturer E.J.F. van Dissel & Zonen in Eindhoven. Many a linen cupboard was also filled with tablecloths and napkins by other well-known designers, such as Cornelis van der Sluys, Theo Nieuwenhuis and Jaap Gidding. Nature was an important source of inspiration. Elegant stylised designs featuring parrots, lilies, cherry branches, fish and penguins in the Art Nouveau style and later the Amsterdam School brought a special cachet to the dining table. They were the pride of every housewife.

Collection TextielMuseum

The TextielMuseum has the most extensive collection of Dutch table linen from the early 20th century. In recent years, previously unknown and rare table linen from this period has been added to the collection. The showpieces have now been taken out of the linen cupboard, with a beautifully set table at the centre of the exhibition.

Collaboration between Chris Lebeau and E.J.F van Dissel & Zonen

The unique collaboration between Chris Lebeau and linen manufacturer Van Dissel began in 1905 and continued until around 1940. Lebeau is known to have produced more than 50 damask designs, whose stylised Art Nouveau patterns garnered great acclaim in the press. Van Dissel was also praised for breaking the tradition of copying or adapting patterns by foreign designers or design agencies. Lebeau designed according to a grid system, dividing the surface geometrically to create a clean, regular composition. The tablecloth, napkins and doilies complemented each other, despite their differences in size. To achieve this, he did not reduce the basic design for each item, as was usual, but rearranged the motifs for each element.

Chris Lebeau, table linen and napkins Cyclamen (564)
from: Het nieuwe damast van Lebeau uit de fabrieken van E.J.F. van Dissel & Zonen te Eindhoven, 1932
collection TextielMuseum

Photo credits campagne image (set table, top of this page):

• Chris Lanooy, table linen ‘Vissen en pinguïns’, 1925 – 1935; Van den Briel & Verster (Eindhoven)
• Chris van der Hoef, tableware Model 4300, décor 1020, ca. 1905; Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland; loan Serviezendomein, Utrecht
• Glashuis Muller, Amsterdam, glass tableware ‘Regina’, 1923; by Josephinen Hütte Schreiberhau; loan private collection
• H. Ellens, cutlery, 1919-1920; Koninklijke Utrechtse Fabriek van Zilverwerken / Koninklijke Van Kempen & Begeer, Voorschoten; loan private collection