Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

2018

  • Work on this object began.

2025

Photograph, Leon Kalajian with a sunray pleating board

This is a Photograph. It was photographed by Christopher Payne and subject: Tom's Sons International Pleating.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Christopher Payne as part of Made in America: The Industrial Photography of Christopher Payne.

It is dated 2018. Its medium is digital pigment print. It is a part of the Exhibitions department.


Pleated fabrics are made by heat pressing them between carefully folded and scored paper molds. Leon Kalajian was in the pleating business for over 70 years before passing away in 2023.

Its dimensions are

H x W: 134.6 × 101.6 cm (53 × 40 in.) H x W (framed dimensions): 139.7 × 106.7 cm (55 × 42 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Made in America: The Industrial Photography of Christopher Payne.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/2318813305/ |title=Photograph, Leon Kalajian with a sunray pleating board |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=8 December 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>