Antonin Kybal, 1948 Wool Carpet: Influential Czech Textile Designer

Antonín Kybal (1901–1971) was a pivotal figure in Czech textile design, renowned for his innovative integration of traditional craftsmanship with modernist aesthetics. His work significantly influenced 20th-century decorative arts, particularly in the realm of textiles.

Education

He studied philosophy at the School of Applied Arts at Charles University in Prague.

Biography

In 1928, he opened his textile studio in Prague; he joined the SCSD (Czech Werkbund); he collaborated at Krasna jizya (The Beautiful Room); from 1948 to 1971, he was a professor at the College of Applied Arts in Prague; from the 1920s to the 1930s, he was a leading influence in the Modern style of domestic textiles for domestic use and became important in the production of handmade prints; he designed a large number of handwoven and machine made carpets. He collaborated with leading Czech architects. He designed furnishing fabrics for family houses, the interiors of the Prague castle in 1936, and the League of Nations Geneva in 1937. He published articles in the magazines Zijeme in 1931, Panorama in 1935, Arkitektura in 1942, and others; he created hand-woven tapestries and influenced Modern Czech tapestry.

He won a gold medal at the 1958 ‘Exposition Universelle et Internationale de Bruxelles (Expo 58).

Sources

Galerie Parallèle. (n.d.). Antonín Kybal. Galerie Parallèle. Retrieved from https://www.galerie-parallele.com/en/99_antonin-kybal

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