Angelo Testa Prints  

Testa
Those are paper placemats. Angelo Testa did a whole series of paper napkins and placemats in the 50's using his designs.

What exactly
... would you like to know about Angelo Testa?
He was an artist, and important textile designer, and from what I understand, all around great guy.
Some of his designs were made into assorted fabrics and textiles and otherwise mass-produced. He sold original works and also created multiples of some of his works (serigraphs, etc.). He did a wide range of artworks including a large outdoor sculpture which was mounted on the exterior of the Peerless Confection building in Chicago (a Keck+Keck building). A friend of mine had the opportunity to buy the sculpture when the building was sold, but relented when the Elmhurst Art Museum expressed interest. My understanding is that it is to be installed on the exterior of the museum.
One of your pieces, the green concentric rectangles, is titled "Campagna" after his good friend architect Paul Campagna. It was made into a fabric design by Knoll in 1947.
A google image search shows the wide range of works Testa created.
http://www.google.com/search?q=angelo+testa&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=imvnso&t...

double post

I had no idea that sculpture...
I had no idea that sculpture was by Testa! And certainly no idea that the building was a Keck+Keck. I used to live right by there. I actually used to think the building may've been associated with the nearby church, since the central element of the sculpture so closely resembles a cross. I was sad to see it go, so I'm glad to hear that it's survived!

More photos
Testa in 1950, at home in 1960 and 1970 with his modified Barwa lounge.

Still more
An exhibition catalogue from 1983 for a show of Testa's work titled "Angelo Testa 40 years as a designer/ painter/ weaver" It was at the College of Architecture, Art and Urban Planning Gallery at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Yet more
Angelo Testa was also featured in the book "Rooted in Chicago Fifty Years of Textile Design Traditions" from the museum studies series at the Art Institute of Chicago.
The last image is of a postcard from the Jens Risom showroom in the Merchandise Mart promoting an exhibit of artwork by Testa.

That is the most insane...
That is the most insane cover for a Barwa chair I have evr seen. Thanks Peg for the great pics!

Thanks
for all the feedback and sorry for the delay! It was my first posting on this site and I figured I'd see an e-mail if anyone responded to me. Very informative, I love learning the history of the mid-century items we pick up. I don't think we'll be using them as placemats, a frame-shop seems more suitable. Cheers.

He was Uncle Buster to us
I actually knew Angelo. He was the uncle of one of my childhood friends and was always "Uncle Buster" to us. He was originally from Springfield MA and one summer when he was visiting my friends family I remember him working on this piece. The picture (and each shape) is made out of individual dots. I lost touch with my friend and her family after high school but always remembered him working on this particular picture. Wish I could get my hands on it. I also remember a lot of his artwork and fabrics in their house.
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