This sidewall print has an all-sky and cloudscape with two airplanes flying through. The pattern is repeated only twice, so the plane and cloud formation is identical halfway. The print has a realistic illustrative style but little contrast as it is duo-chrome light blue and cream, with mostly cream clouds filling up the sky and hints of light blue showing through in various gradients. The two planes are also drawn with little contrast, making them and their shadows almost blend into the clouds. The planes are angled diagonally flying away from below the viewer, with one wing across the top and propeller spinning in a circle on the front body. The two wings have American flags on either tip, while the side reads [Spirit of America.] On the tail are hints of numbers and letters indicating the plane's model, illegible. Below the plane is a half silhouette shadow.

There are 3 other images of this object. See our image rights statement.

See more objects with the tag clouds, travel, airlines, children, domestic interiors, Paris, New York, flight, children's, washable, boys, airplane.

Object Timeline

1927	Work on this object began.
1938	We acquired this object.
1970	We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
1991	We exhibited this object.
2007	We exhibited this object.
2008	We photographed this object.
2013	This was an Object of the Day.
2016	We photographed this object.
2017	We exhibited this object.
2022	You found it!

Sidewall, The Lindbergh

This is a Sidewall. It was manufactured by United Wallpaper Factories, Inc.. It is dated 1927 and we acquired it in 1938. Its medium is machine printed with engraved rollers. It is a part of the Wallcoverings department.

On May 20-21, 1927 Charles Lindbergh made his historic non-stop flight from New York to Paris for which he was awarded the nation’s highest military honor as well as the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts. Because of his perseverance, courage, and bravery Lindbergh was hailed as a great inspiration for boys, and became a role model for the Boy Scouts of America. That same year United Wallpaper introduced this wallpaper honoring the American legend.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Lone Scout of the Sky.

This object was donated by Grace Lincoln Temple. It is credited Gift of Grace Lincoln Temple.

Small, embroidered purse with blue border and black-and-gold strap. The background of the purse's center is a yellow and orange sky, with grey clouds overlaid. In the foreground is an airplane, seen from underneath. Its body is grey and orange, its wings are blue.

Purse, 1928
tapestry, silver-plated clasp.
Lent by Mobiler national, Paris, Beauvais 1666.
74.2016.2

This is a blue upholstered Bergere chair with gilded wood. Its back center depicts an airplane, surrounded by an oval of flowers. There are also brightly colored flowers on the seat and arms of the chair. Metal studs surround the upholstery. There are signs of wear on the chair’s legs.

Bergère, L'Aviation
giltwood and wool and silk tapestry (upholstery).
Lent by Mobiler national, Paris.
74.2016.1

A close-up detail from the bottom left corner of a voluminous, horizontal mural showing in muted colors, three small vignettes of the artist, Arthur Gordon Smith, Admiral Richard Byrd, and a musical comedy medallion from left to right. The downcast portrait of the artist is depicted with his palette, brushes and paints below. Explorer Richard Byrd is shown at the South Pole, adorned in warm clothing and positioned above a float plane and icy landscape scenery. A banner next to Byrd reads, 'Broadcasting to Byrd at the South Pole.' The medallion to the right features a single person posed with one hand on the hip, the other hand raised overhead and holding a circular object, possibly a tambourine. The figure stands on a colorful tiled floor and is costumed with a white shirt with oversized bloused sleeves and a short skirt or shorts, and with a decorative herringbone scarf tied at the waist. The mural is framed with a border of rotating right-triangles in a repetitive color scheme, yet with varying sizes. The corner features a unique decorative design.

Mural Detail, The World of Radio, 1934
cotton.
Gift of Nicholas Meredith Turner in memory of Jessica Dragonette.
s-e-2259

Our curators have highlighted 3 objects that are related to this one.

Sidewall, Balloons
screen-printed on paper.
Gift of Jessup, Inc..
1958-115-31

Poster, American Airlines to New York
lithograph.
Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
1963-39-139

A square, concave orange-brown leather seat in wood frame with tapering cylindrical legs joined by horizontal stretchers and angled dowels. The seat, with defined upward corners, is detailed with zig-zag attachments and supported underneath with braced spindles. The dowels feature a wrapped rope pattern and a flared bottom. Loose threads and triangular sections of black lining fabric hang underneath.

Thebes Stool
mahogany, leather.
Museum purchase from Decorative Arts Association Acquisitions Fund, in memory....
1993-78-2

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 115.7 x 76.2 cm (45 9/16 x 30 in.) Mat: 123.2 × 83.8 cm (48 1/2 in. × 33 in.)

It is inscribed

Printed in left selvedge: United Wallpaper Factories; printed in right selvedge: The Lindbergh.

Cite this object as

Sidewall, The Lindbergh; Manufactured by United Wallpaper, Inc. ; USA; machine printed with engraved rollers; H x W x D: 115.7 x 76.2 cm (45 9/16 x 30 in.) Mat: 123.2 × 83.8 cm (48 1/2 in. × 33 in.); Gift of Grace Lincoln Temple; 1938-62-54

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibitions The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s, Wall Stories: Children's Wallpapers and Books and The Cooper-Hewitt Collections: A Design Resource.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2C4V8/
Accession Number 1938-62-54
Object ID 18353701