Manhattan 140×240

Additional information

The Manhattan design by Marjatta Metsovaara is a fascinating example of her "internationalist" period. While many of her 1950s designs were rooted in Finnish nature (like Liekki or Lukki), Manhattan was specifically tailored for the sophisticated, metropolitan audience that tastemakers like Elizabeth Gordon championed.

1. The Colors of Manhattan
Based on the 1960 US Catalog and the design's intent to capture the "New York" spirit of the era:
• The Palette: Manhattan typically features a rhythmic grid of metropolitan neutrals—charcoal grey, silver-grey, and crisp white—interwoven with a sharp "signal color," most often a vibrant aniline blue or a deep, sophisticated teal.
• The Visual Effect: Unlike the organic "flickering" of the Liekki rug, Manhattan uses color to create a sense of static energy. The contrast between the cool greys and the electric blue was meant to mimic the steel, glass, and neon of a 1960s cityscape.

2. What Metsovaara Expressed with "Manhattan"
Marjatta Metsovaara was a "textile architect." With this specific design, she expressed:
• The Urban Grid: The pattern is an abstraction of modern city planning. The intersecting lines represent the organized chaos of a metropolis, moving away from the "forest" motifs of Finland toward a global, urban aesthetic.
• Precision and Industry: By 1960, she was perfecting "industrial weaving" that felt hand-crafted. Manhattan expressed the beauty of the perfectly straight line, celebrating the technological advancement of her mill in Urjalankylä and her burgeoning international business.
• The "Elizabeth Gordon" Vision: Gordon, the editor of House Beautiful, believed Finnish design was the "Gold Standard" because it was both modern and human. Metsovaara expressed this "human modernism" by taking a cold, industrial concept (Manhattan) and making it soft, tactile, and warm through high-quality wool.

3. The Evolution: Original vs. The New 140x240cm Throw
Scaling the design from the 1954/1960 travel rug size (135x180cm) to the modern statement size (140x240cm) changes the textile's "architectural weight":
1. Intended Use: A "Car Robe" or "Travel Rug" meant to be tucked around the knees in a car or on a deck chair. Now a statement piece meant to be draped over a large modern sofa or a King-sized bed.
2. Visual Scale: The grid appears tight and dense; it is a personal, "wrapped" accessory. Now the pattern "breathes." The 240cm length allows the grid to flow over furniture, making the architectural lines more prominent in a room.
3. Material Impact: Usually 100% Wool—sturdy, warm, and somewhat heavy. Ifmade in the 72% mohair blend, it becomes featherlight. Despite being larger, it is easier to handle and has a "shimmer" that captures light in modern glass-walled homes.

In modern global architecture: The original size would get "lost" in a high-ceilinged room or on a 3-meter sofa. The 140x240cm version acts as a bridge between the furniture and the room, fulfilling Marjatta's original dream of textiles serving as the "final layer of architecture."

This beautiful throw blanket, finished with Metsovaara’s signature knotted fringes, offers you sensory immersion, silk-like luster, weightless warmth, and an elegant drape that enhances both modern and generously proportioned living spaces. At newly built state-of-the-art combing and spinning facilities, these natural fibers are transformed into unique variations of yarns. Woven in the original Manhattan pattern from the 1950s, the fabric is brushed to create a classic, fluffy form. All this means that a throw blanket from Metsovaara not only adorns any room but also provides high comfort and a genuine sense of craftsmanship and heritage.

With today’s improved production methods, the material is more reliable and resistant to washing.

BODY SIZE:
140 cm x 210 cm

FULL SIZE:
with Metsovaara fringes 140 cm x 240 cm

SLOW MACHINE WOVEN FABRIC

MAIN MATERIAL: 72% Mohair / 28% Pure New Wool
WEIGHT: 280 g/m²
MATERIAL WEIGHT: approx. 941 g

Fluff up the travel rug after use. Brush it lightly against the pile from time to time. Dry cleaning is recommended. Hand wash or machine wash with natural detergent, with no spinning at washing and drying and no hanging at drying.