David Brossard/flickr, CC BY-SAįeatherstone’s design wasn’t the first time flamingos swooped into American culture, either. Art historian Karal Ann Marling explains that in the 1950s, pink was perceived as “young, daring – and omnisexual.” She points out that popular celebrities like Mamie Eisenhower, Jayne Mansfield and Elvis Presley loved to incorporate pink in their wardrobes, their bedroom decor and – in the case of Elvis – their cars.Įlvis Presley’s famous pink Cadillac is on display in Graceland’s Auto Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. In a famous scene from The Graduate, actor Dustin Hoffman expresses disillusionment in the “great future in plastics.”Īnd then there’s the color pink. In the postwar era, cheap, sturdy and versatile plastics were becoming an increasingly popular material for mass-produced commercial products, from Tupperware to Model 500 rotary phones.ĭesign historian Jeffrey Meikle discusses how this era was referred to as “a new Rococo marked by extravagance, excess, and vulgarity.” Many design and cultural critics pilloried plastic for its ability to easily depart from established design principles, though consumers and manufacturers kept the craze going. The late 1950s also witnessed the solidification of a commodity-driven suburban way of life, along with a host of new anxieties over class and status. The year 1957 was the year of Elvis Presley’s Jailhouse Rock and the ‘57 Chevy, of popular plastic toys like Wham-O’s hula hoop and the Frisbee – all icons of midcentury nostalgia. A product of its timeĪll three of the ornament’s basic elements – plastic material, pink color and the flamingo design – have a particular relevance to the late 1950s. While many are quick to label the plastic ornament as the epitome of kitsch, the flamingo has actually taken a rather tumultuous flight through an ever-changing landscape of taste and class. Family will fawn over this captivating theme, telling you how unique and unexpected it is! A taste of the tropics is never difficult to find with the exquisite treasures in the Tropical Pink Flamingo Décor collection.In 1957, a 21-year-old art school graduate named Don Featherstone created his second major design for the Massachusetts-based lawn and garden decoration manufacturer Union Products: a three-dimensional plastic pink flamingo propped up by two thin, metal legs that could be plunged into soft dirt.įeatherstone’s duck and flamingo ornaments sold in pairs for US$2.76, and were advertised as “Plastics for the Lawn.” They became simultaneously popular and derided in the late 1950s and remain a recognizable species of American material culture.įeatherstone died this past June, but over five decades after he submitted his design, the plastic pink flamingo continues to grace American lawns and homes. A lovely hand-hooked flamingo pillow nestles on the reading chair, and a fun flamingo hamper sits pretty in the corner. It suddenly comes to life with a majestic pink flamingo wood wall art above the headboard. Imagine your master bedroom with its neutral furniture and bedding. But what if we told you that pink is the new black? In other words, just a hint of this bold color inspires whimsy like none other. If you’re ready to embrace this dainty color and say hello to a beautiful bird every day of the summer, step into paradise with the Tropical Pink Flamingo Décor collection.ĭo you tend to play it safe when it comes to color scheme? So many of us beach house owners choose the typical blues, greens, grays, and whites for our relaxing retreats. For your formal sitting room, office, kitchen, or really anywhere, a signature piece of pink flamingo wall art delivers a subtle punch of vibrancy. You’ll even find unique flamingo bathroom accessories, such as shower curtains and toilet covers. Browse endless options for flamingo floor mats and area rugs, throw pillows, coat hooks, garden accessories, and other classic décor for your living room, dining room, bedroom and outdoor spaces.
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