Summary

Alternative Name(s): Teatowel

Tea towel printed in light blue on off-white background. Printing pattern has five principal rows featuring Australian animals: platypus, Lyrebirds, kangaroos and koalas with joeys (infant koalas). Made by John Rodriquez for commercial sale. It has the same pattern and colour as HT 24704.

John Rodriquez studied art and design at RMIT in the late 1940s and became well known for his screen-printed textile designs in the early 1950s. From 1950 to 1980 he was one of a handful of Australian textile designers who developed a new contemporary style with innovative use of colour. His designs in the early 1950s were mostly of Aboriginal or geometric style. Later he turned to more abstract designs in the Scandinavian style. Later still he made bold use of colour. Rodriquez introduced unique Australian styles which have been imitated often since. He always stressed the importance of innovation. Many homes in Australia and overseas still have his art works in the linen cupboard.

John Rodriquez retired in 1988, handing the Rodriquez company to his son Rimian, who has computerised the screen printing and mostly employs other designers for the products, but still uses a few of his father's most popular designs. Rodriquez passed away in 2000.

Physical Description

Tea towel printed in light blue on off-white background. Printing pattern has five principal rows featuring Australian animals: five platypus, five Lyrebirds, four kangaroos, four koalas with joeys (infant koalas) and another row of platypus. Each is surrounded by dots representing ground/stones and lines representing grasses. Three rows are upside down in relation to the others. Machine-hemmed top and bottom.

Significance

See Narrative 'John Rodriquez Textile Collection'.

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