surface design  

kdc all I can say is
Man, dem patterns are outta sight! Actually my grandmother had kitchen curtains back in the late fifties and early sixties very much like the first example.

check out Melinamade
Some of those fabrics are back in production from melinamade.com. I read an article awhile back (maybe on her website but I don't see it there now) about how she was using those designs and then heard from the original designer. They ended up working together, I think. Or something like that.
Most of her stuff is too kitschy for me but some of it is nice.
http://www.melinamade.com/Store2/vintage_fabric.php3?cookie_set=/+

Angelo Testa
Check out Angelo Testa's work. Painting, textile design, very versatile and elegant work.

Some Examples
1950s

Painterly
Painterly designs

one of my alltime faves
This is a screen printed cotton velvet by Anita Askild for Larsen Design (Jack Lenor Larsen), dated 1962. The pattern is called "Caravan". It came in a red/orange colorway and a blue/black one, I think. Probably others. I found a length of it at auction a few years ago and got it for 2 bucks. It was in an old plastic bag with one of those "HELLO My Name Is..." stickers on it. It's name was "Wall Hanging". Someone had made big crude buttonholes along the edge so that it could be hung up. She had excellent taste but no skills.
Anyway, I was thrilled to bits to get it, being a lifelong fabric maven. I made three pillows out of it.
I haven't found much else of Anita Askild's online. She died at age 43 so may have not had a chance to produce a lot.

Lest ye forget--- Stig Lindberg

Great idea for a thread. I...
Great idea for a thread. I have a lot to learn about surface design. I really like the Testa patterns, and the first ones kdc posted. Are those by Day?
Stig Lindberg drew some interesting patterns. There has been renewed interest in his work lately following some highly publicized exhibitions.
Pictures found on http://2modern.blogs.com/.

Oh, I didn't see william's...
Oh, I didn't see william's post.

william, that pillow pattern...
william, that pillow pattern is "Raxt" by Olle Bonnier.
http://www.funkis.com/signedtextile/bonnier.html

Here is a painting by Olle...
Here is a painting by Olle Bonnier:

Thanks, Gustaf--
I didn't know definitively that the pillow fabric was Stigberg, but I knew it was Swedish so I thought I'd sneak it in (because I think it's a beauty). Thanks for the correct attribution.

Like the circles that you find,
in the windmills of your mind: Marimekko.

of course ... stig
stig's influence has been significant; thanks for the reminder. thanks to all who have contributed so far. please keep this thread alive ... i'm convinced there's so much more for us to share and learn. ::kdc