![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rn0a2gSAvRk/TWCbYBuenAI/AAAAAAAAT3M/MWMj6esH01c/s1600/VandABooks.jpg)
The Victoria & Albert Museum has been releasing a series of themed Pattern Books based on their collection of more than three million samples of wallpapers and fabrics. The little inexpensive volume I was amusing myself with today (indoors, avoiding yet another rain storm) is
The Fifties, available either by itself or as part of a
boxed set that also contains volumes on William Morris, Digital Pioneers, and Indian Florals. Each includes a CD of high-resolution scans. Below are a few of my absolute 50s favorites, though it was excruciating to narrow down the choices.
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bGq2AU8XDBs/TWCRnbf-86I/AAAAAAAAT20/9FYbv3He2ro/s640/V%2526A3.jpg)
Palladio Wallpapers
Bistro
UK
wallpaper sample
1955
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0ZuI1Qbtrs/TWCRZPZpowI/AAAAAAAAT2s/i1FPyMIAbnU/s640/V%2526A15.jpg)
Gigi Tessari/Manifattura
Spago
Furnishing fabric, printed cotton
Italy
1957
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UOJEw8fCO8w/TWCRRgkgcoI/AAAAAAAAT2k/zNExjqYmmM4/s640/V%2526A12.jpg)
Marian Mahler/David Whitehead
Curtain fabric, screen-printed cotton
UK
1950
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xbSOBmL9oLA/TWCQ_1nyS2I/AAAAAAAAT2c/1SDwm_zOVC8/s640/V%2526A2.jpg)
Jacqueline Groag/Liberty & Co.
Books
Furnishing fabric, screen-printed linen
UK
1954
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EyepS5lebLc/TWCQ3JeJmtI/AAAAAAAAT2U/xzbqpQXV_Ts/s640/V%2526A8.jpg)
Sylvia Chalmers/Elizabeth Eaton
Feathered Friends
Furnishing fabric, screen-printed cotton
UK
1953
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19Kx7gDoNb4/TWCQtdkTnsI/AAAAAAAAT2M/5M5GrBa2EgM/s640/V%2526A5.jpg)
Robert Nicholson/Palladio Wallpapers
Columns
Wallpaper sample
UK
1955
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OuFTZ9RBZqo/TWCQkqXmpFI/AAAAAAAAT2E/jkLd31oXWtw/s640/V%2526A9.jpg)
Robert Nicholson/Palladio Wallpapers
Collonade
Wallpaper sample
UK
1955
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bJVa3g9affM/TWCQa_31YSI/AAAAAAAAT18/nYZXH0LAMxs/s640/V%2526A18.jpg)
Cuno Fischer/Frittlingen, Alber & Co
Blues
Furnishing fabric, printed cotton
Germany
1955
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPSMyJDLLPc/TWCQTqhSwoI/AAAAAAAAT10/vmZ-aLP9HYE/s640/V%2526A4.jpg)
Tom Mellors/David Whitehead
Flowerpots
Furnishing fabric, roller-printed spun rayon
UK
1954
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KKGEc2x_frM/TWCQKKzoKBI/AAAAAAAAT1s/7itHITeYpwk/s640/V%2526A6.jpg)
Joan Miro/FullerFabrics
People & Birds
Furnishing fabric, screen-printed cotton
USA
1956
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iCvf3IUeDXU/TWCQBULj3FI/AAAAAAAAT1k/v0ZroJHg-hc/s640/V%2526A11.jpg)
John Drummond/Anne Loosely
Piscatore
Furnishing fabric, screen-printed cotton satin
UK
1953
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-srCKcJ4uPGM/TWCP4OZA9uI/AAAAAAAAT1c/H_L47WfY2Ic/s640/V%2526A17.jpg)
Terrence Conran/David Whitehead
Furnishing fabric, screen-printed cotton
UK
1950
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l2vY5fX-eqA/TWCPwXBkCVI/AAAAAAAAT1U/vFw5GnbHT4g/s640/V%2526A16.jpg)
Edward Hughes/Palladio Wallpapers
Basuto
Wallpaper sample
UK
1955
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p1Q3eSwgzrg/TWCPnr4QaJI/AAAAAAAAT1M/3Ck5Y35VJq4/s640/V%2526A10.jpg)
Roger Nicholson/David Whitehead
Furnishing fabric
UK
1951
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2U15jotIdqw/TWCPbZB7-SI/AAAAAAAAT1E/D1pcQE0Akfw/s640/V%2526A1.jpg)
Lucienne Day/Heal's
Small Hours
Furnishing fabric, screen-printed linen
UK
1953