Vera was born in 1907, and was fortunate to have parents and teachers who encouraged her artistic endeavors at an early age. She went on to study art and design in college and began her solo professional life doing book illustration and mural work.
Vera married George Neumann, a man with family ties in the textile industry. In the early 1940s, they started their first company, Printext, from their home using a tabletop screen printing press. Their early products were primarily table linens. Her foray into scarf design was a happy accident. Linen became difficult for their company to obtain after the war, so they began working with parachute silk. The simple scarf allowed her to continue to work with smaller items, but satisfied one of her goals: providing affordable art for the masses.
Over the years, Vera’s name became associated with many large companies including F. Schumacher & Co, for whom she designed fabric and wallpaper; as well as Mikasa, where her designs adorned serviceware and china. Her signature, along with her ladybug symbol, became known worldwide.
Vintage Vera napkins with ladybug from CoconutRoad |
Vintage Vera Neumann blouse and hat by judygovintage |
For more information on Vera Neumann-
http://theveracompany.tumblr.com/post/8733111432/when-was-my-vera-scarf-made
Great slide show on Vera and her design inspirations http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/18/vera-neumann_n_1018007.html
“Vera: The Art and Life of an Icon” by Susan Seid (Abrams; Thames & Hudson)
Vintage Vera scarf by PopFizzVintage |