Jack Lenor Larsen Artwork valuations, appraisals and auction estimates

Jack Lenor Larsen, born in 1927 in Seattle, was a well-known American textile designer who dedicated himself to traditional and contemporary craftsmanship. He studied at the University of Washington School of Architecture, with particular interest in interior design, weaving and furniture design. Read the full biography

Jack Lenor Larsen Biography

Jack Lenor Larsen, born in 1927 in Seattle, was a well-known American textile designer who dedicated himself to traditional and contemporary craftsmanship. He studied at the University of Washington School of Architecture, with particular interest in interior design, weaving and furniture design. Over the course of his career, which began in the 1950s, Larsen created numerous fabric collections, becoming very popular among American consumers in the post-war period. Her upholstery fabrics, featuring random repeats and the use of hand-woven natural yarns, were popular with clients such as Marilyn Monroe. In 1958, he designed his first aircraft upholstery for Pan American Airlines. Through his interest in textile craftsmanship and international weaving, Larsen introduced techniques such as ikat and batik to America, producing fabrics in 30 different countries by 1974. He also contributed to the use of stretch nylon to cover furniture and introduced screen printing on velvet to create reversible textures and patterns on bath towels. Some of his private collections are also found in architect Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater residences and Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen's Miller House. Jack Lenor Larsen died on December 22, 2020 at his home in East Hampton, New York.