Memphis was a collective of Italian designers and architects formed in 1981 under the leadership of Ettore Sottsass. The designers objected to the existing standards of 'good taste' and the dearth of creative thinking in contemporary design. Memphis is instantly recognized for its own aesthetic -- outrageously daring and colourful shapes, patterns and materials contrasted with the accepted structure of the time. Nathalie du Pasquier was one of the original designers who participated in the first Memphis exhibition in a Milan showroom in September 1981. The motifs and colours in her early work were influenced by her travels in Africa and India. Her designs also allude to the day-glo hues of the sixties and the spiky moitfs seen in some 1920s Wiener Werkstaette fabrics. By bringing together diverse influences in a single object, Memphis designers attempted to suggest something about the nature of our world, where so much information is available simultaneously.

Self taught artist and textile designer, Nathalie du Pasquier (born Bordeaux, France, 1957) designed the first Memphis fabrics and floor rugs as well as tableware and furniture. The flat patterning of textiles provided a perfect vechicle for the expression of the Memphis aesthetic and du Pasquier's vibrantly coloured, abstract designs, were important early agents in establishing the Memphis 'look' and securing its broad, popular appeal. Du Pasquier left Memphis in 1987 and since then has concentrated on painting, which she exhibited internationally throughout the 1990s, and ceramic projects including a porcelain cabinet commissioned by Sevres in 1996.

This tie complements both the existing collection of ties and to the Memphis collection. It complements other examples of du Pasquier's work such as her 'California Carpet' (86/1019) and her Zambia (86/1021) and Cerchio (86/1020) fabrics. Other significant Memphis itmes in the collection include Toshiyuki Kita's 'Wink' armchair (85/1830), a De Lucchi couch (86/1013) and chair (86/1014), and works by the founder of the Memphis movement, Ettore Sottsass's Letraset fabric (86/1022), room divider (86/1015) and a floor lamp (86/1023).

Tie was made in Italy.

This tie was purchased by Michael Desmond, curatorial manager at the Powerhouse Museum, in 1984 (?) in Kings Road, London. The tie was never worn.

Tie, mens, viscose, with original packaging, designed by Nathalie du Pasquier for 'Memphis', Milan, Italy, 1980 - 1985

Thin, straight sided tie with blunt ends with colourful all over abstract pattern by Nathalie du Pasquier. Pink jagged lines form a 'crazy paving' patter on the yellow background and stylised red stars, outlined in green are splashed randomly across the fabric. The original packaging is an envelope of stiff shiny off-white paper with black squares and dots of varying sizes to form shade patters as diagonal stripes.

Designed: Du Pasquier, Nathalie;

Made: Memphis; Italy; 1980 - 1985


Owned: Desmond, Michael; London, England; 1984 - 2002

Tie: black fabric label '100% COTTONE/BAUMWOLLE/COTON/COTTON', reverse 'MADE IN ITALY/FUTTER-LINING/100% VISKOSE...'. White fabric label 'MEMPHIS'.

Packaging: 'MEMPHIS/CRAVATTE'.

2004/87/1