In the 1950's printed kitchen towels were a new idea in Sweden. One of the favourite designs was Astrid Sampe's 'Persson's Spice Rack', dedicated to the ceramist Signe Persson Melin, who, in the early fifties, made a series of ceramic spice-jars with cork stoppers.
Still printed in Sweden by Almedahls this wonderful retro design will add a nostalgic touch to any kitchen.
ASTRID SAMPE
Astrid Sampe (1909-2002) was born in Stockholm, but has her roots in Sjuhäradsbygden (in western Sweden). She was trained at the Swedish State School of Arts, Craft and Design (Konstfack) in Stockholm, and later at the Royal College of Art in London. In1937 she started working as a designer at Nordiska Kompaniet, and one year later she became the manager of the newly created NK Textile Studio (Textilkammaren). Astrid's and Almedahls' joint history dates back to the nineteen-fifties. At H55, the Exhibition in Helsingborg 1955, the Linen Line was introduced, a revolution of the Swedish linen cupboard, initiated and created by Astrid Sampe. New sizes, patterns and colours of textiles for the linen cupboard, like napkins and tea-towels.
In 1972 Astrid Sampe left NK and established her own studio in Stockholm to design textiles and interior fittings.
