A Dark, A Light, A Bright: The Designs of Dorothy Liebes

Designer and weaver Dorothy Liebes (1897–1972), who introduced handcraft and brilliant color to the modern interior, was among the most influential designers of the 20th century. This digital platform explores how the “Liebes Look”—which combined vivid color, lush texture, and often a glint of metallic—became inextricably linked with the American modern aesthetic. Choose a topic to explore her impact on mid-20th-century interiors, fashion, film, and industrial design, and meet some of the studio weavers who contributed to the success of the Dorothy Liebes Studio.

Your journey so far

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Your journey so far

Unusual Occupations

Dorothy Liebes, Video

About the Designer

Dorothy Liebes, Essay

Arts & Skills

Dorothy Liebes, Video

Get to Know Dorothy Liebes

Dorothy Liebes, Video

The “Mother of Modern Weaving”

Dorothy Liebes, Video

Timeline

Dorothy Liebes, Timeline

Argonaut

The Liebes Look, Essay

Lurex

The Liebes Look, Essay

Pretty Penny

The Liebes Look, Essay

SS Independence & SS Constitution

The Liebes Look, Essay

SS Santa Rosa & SS Santa Paula

The Liebes Look, Essay

SS United States

The Liebes Look, Essay

The Marco Polo Club

The Liebes Look, Essay

The Persian Room

The Liebes Look, Essay

Toss Pillows and TV Cushions

The Liebes Look, Essay

United Nations Delegates Dining Room

The Liebes Look, Essay

Doris Duke’s Shangri La

The Modern Interior, Essay

Frank Lloyd Wright

The Modern Interior, Essay

Samuel A. Marx

The Modern Interior, Essay

The Decorative Arts Display at the Golden Gate International Exposition

The Modern Interior, Essay

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel & SS Lurline

The Modern Interior, Essay

William Pahlmann

The Modern Interior, Essay

Anna Kang

Studio Weavers, Essay

Balbir Kaur

Studio Weavers, Essay

Daren Pierce

Studio Weavers, Essay

Dorr Bothwell

Studio Weavers, Essay

Emma Amos

Studio Weavers, Essay

Geraldine Funk

Studio Weavers, Essay

Glen Kaufman

Studio Weavers, Essay

Harry Soviak

Studio Weavers, Essay

Kamma Zethraus

Studio Weavers, Essay

Louise and Vanita Fong

Studio Weavers, Essay

Mary Walker Phillips

Studio Weavers, Essay

Nancy Kenealy

Studio Weavers, Essay

Ralph Higbee

Studio Weavers, Essay

Tammis Keefe

Studio Weavers, Essay

The Gift of Daren Pierce to the Smithsonian

Studio Weavers, Image Story

“Kashmir” for Pomona Tile

Better & Better for Less & Less, Essay

American Airlines

Better & Better for Less & Less, Essay

Bigelow-Sanford Custom Carpets

Better & Better for Less & Less, Essay

Carol Stanley

Better & Better for Less & Less, Essay

Chrysler Plymouth Fury

Better & Better for Less & Less, Essay

DuPont Pavilion

Better & Better for Less & Less, Essay

Goodall Fabrics

Better & Better for Less & Less, Essay

Kenwood Blankets

Better & Better for Less & Less, Essay

United Wallpaper

Better & Better for Less & Less, Essay

Adam’s Rib

Fashion & Film, Essay

East Side, West Side

Fashion & Film, Essay

Souvenir de Paris

Fashion & Film, Essay

Bonnie Cashin’s Skirtings Inc.

Fashion & Film, Essay

Clare Potter

Fashion & Film, Essay

Gilbert Adrian

Fashion & Film, Essay

The Personal Jewelry Collection of Dorothy Liebes

Fashion & Film, Essay

Color

The Idea Factory, Object Group

Glitter

The Idea Factory, Object Group

Materials

The Idea Factory, Object Group

Synthetic Material Identification in Dorothy Liebes Samples at Cooper Hewitt

The Idea Factory, Essay

Texture

The Idea Factory, Object Group

Two Liebes Looms

The Idea Factory, Essay