1. Takashimaya introduced "American Folk Kitchens" with afull complement ofAmericanfood andfood productsfor theJapanese household. 2. Cast iron bookends patterned after chalkware Amish Couplefrom the permanent collection ofthe Museum — one ofseveral items introduced by American Heritage Publishing Co.,in 1978. 3. "America's Bounty,"cotton stencilled rugs inspired by the Museum's Baltimore Album Quilt and Bird ofParadise quilt top, by Import Specialists, Inc., in 1990. 4. Reproduction ofa mid-18th century Secretaryfrom the Museum's permanent collection by The Lane Company.
Spring 1990
Shaker candlestands; and Peaceable Kingdom calendars. In 1980, the Museum hired Hermine Mariaux,a home furnishings marketing expert, as exclusive licensing agent for the Museum. Mariaux's challenge has been the creation of a complete home furnishings and decorative accessories reproduction program based on the Museum's permanent collection. As a liaison between the Museum and its licensees, Mariaux works with the Museum and its staff on the selection of objects for reproduction. Her merchandising and marketing expertise reflect thirteen years spent in publishing with The New York Times, House & Garden and Town & Country. In the early 1970s, Mariaux applied her marketing skills at both Valentino and Calvin Klein. She founded her licensing concern in 1976. The formal introduction of The America Collection and the beginning of the relationship between the Museum and The Lane Company, Inc., came in 1981. "The Museum came to us, upon the recommendation of Carl Levine, Senior Vice President of Bloomingdale's, and asked us to reproduce some of the country furniture from its permanent collection,' Stuart Moore, Chairman and CEO of Lane, remembers. "Mr. Levine and his staff worked very closely with the Museum and with us in the development of the furniture collection:' Lane has shown a dedication to producing a line of furniture for The America Collection that is not only versatile and appropriately designed for today's lifestyle, but which evokes special qualities typical of "works of art:' These pieces are to be treasured by the owner and handed down from one generation to the next. In addition to furniture by Lane and it's upholstery division, Pearson, The America Collection included a complete home furnishings and decorative accessories product line complete with printed fabrics; coordinated wallcoverings; decorative pillows; bed and bath linens; shower curtains and bath accessories; dinnerware and collectibles; candles and candle accessories; baskets; flowers; wreaths; housewares; kitchen and table linens; cookware; travel bags and accessories; home fra35