Mary McFadden Archive

Items

• Martex launch event ad
  Ad for a “revolutionary new way to dress the bed” features a photo of Mary McFadden. The ad is undated; her Martex lines of sheets and comforters were launched in 1979. This appears to be a print copy of an ad, not an actual tear sheet.
• Fabric and wallpaper magazine spread
  In this two-page magazine spread about Mary McFadden fabrics and wallpapers, part of the photo is credited to Horst; it can be found via Getty Images and is listed there as being for a 1978 issue of House and Garden magazine (photo by Horst P. Horst/Condé Nast via Getty Images). The two photos are collaged together; the other credit is for Karen Radkai. Both Radkai and Horst are credited on the spread. Neither the name of the magazine or the date appear on the tear sheet. The wallpaper line Coptic Columns and the fabric line Persian Feathers were part of a collection launched in 1978 for Kirk-Brummel Associates’ Raintree Designs.
• Single Self Portrait of Mary McFadden
  Self portrait of Mary McFadden in three-quarters profile. Specific item is undated. From what was included in archival materials, this appears to be the only photograph kept from this particular shoot.
• Contact Sheet for Mary McFadden Portraits
  Photo negative contact sheet with portraits of Mary McFadden. It is unknown if these were self portraits taken on a camera using a self timer or if these were taken by another photographer. The film edge markings state that Kodak TX 6043 film was used. Red markings were used to indicate the primary shot selected from the photoshoot.
• Letter from Joseph Stashkevetch to Mary McFadden Regarding Apartment Design
  Letter from artist Joseph Stashkevetch, who worked for a time as McFadden's assistant, to McFadden regarding the interior design of her New York apartment. This is part of a packet sent by Stashkevetch in 1999 with inspiration material for the apartment.
• Interior Design Inspiration Materials: Gothic and Renaissance Italian Paintings
  A black-and-white scan of altarpieces and paintings by Italian painters of the late Gothic and early Renaissance periods. This scan was sent to McFadden as part of a packet of interior design inspiration materials by artist Joseph Stashkevetch. He worked as McFadden's design assistant and helped design her apartment.
• Martex Advertisement
  Print advertisement in color announcing the "Flower Jewels" pattern, part of the bedding collection designed by Mary McFadden for the home goods company Martex. The line may have been released in 1979.
• Dress Sketches and China-Confucius Notes
  Mary McFadden's dress sketches with notes about China generally and Confucius specifically
• Photograph of Mary McFadden and Daughter Justine Harari
  This black-and-white photograph depicts Mary McFadden and her daughter Justine Harari in their apartment in Manhattan, New York. The child is seated on a patterned cushion, and her mother stands, looking out at the photographer. Mary is wearing a toga of her own design, and Justine wears an elaborately decorated outfit of unknown origin. Famed photographer Horst P. Horst took this picture in the late 1960s or early 1970s.
• Bird Painting
• Slide Photograph of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
  Color 35mm slide photograph of the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan, Iran.
• Slide Photograph of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
  Color 35mm slide photograph of the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan, Iran.
• Letter from Douglas Briggs, QVC (1994)
  Letter to Mary McFadden from Douglas Briggs, president of QVC, congratulating her on the premiere of her TV show World Class Accessories
• Scan of Textile Pattern Sample with Notes
  Color scan of a collaged, hand-painted, and hand-drawn pattern of purple and yellow flowers against a black background. The first and last pages include notes on the pattern design and positioning, and the second page features the pattern.
• Runway Photograph
  In this black-and-white photograph, a fashion model in a long patterned tunic with a shimmering dress underneath walks down a runway. Viewers and photographers line the runway.
• Runway Photograph
  In this black-and-white photograph, a fashion model, in a sheer dress decorated with sequins in the shape of flowers and leaves, walks down a runway. Another model in a checkered sequin tunic and long white skirt walks in the opposite direction, with her back to the viewer.
• Photograph of Mary McFadden and Unknown Woman
  Mary McFadden stands in the center of this color photograph in an elaborate white dress covered in green and gold jewelry. This ensemble is a wedding dress from the fall 1999 "Collection Mongolia," which featured hand-painted quilted jackets and evening dresses. The jewelry she wears is a Tibetan emerald necklace with macramé. An unknown woman in a black corset and purple tutu stands next to her. The pair are in a room with elaborate furniture and art, including a statue of a topless woman emerging from the wall above a marble fireplace. A glass coffee table with a metal chess set on top of it occupies the lower third of the image.
• Photograph of Mary McFadden By David Burnett
  Recto: Black-and-white photograph of Mary McFadden standing behind a large wooden table with two bamboo chairs. The table holds a large, circular basket with papers inside and an ornate dark box. McFadden stands against a wall flanked by a sculpture and a piece of black material hanging on the wall. American photojournalist David Burnett took this photograph of McFadden in 1976. Verso: The back of the photograph contains a stamp with the information "David Burnet Contact 135 Central Park West New York, N.Y. 10023." Written in pen above this is the number "5590" and below the stamp is a date, "1976."
• Painted Floral Textile Pattern Sample
  Colorful, semi-abstract painting of a floral textile pattern on white paper. The painting features gray-blue and yellow flowers with green leaves and stems against a black background. Hints of white and brown appear throughout the painting.
• Scan and Illustration of Textile Pattern
  Black-and-white scan of fabric swatch on white paper embellished with pen and pencil illustrations. The words "'Rainbow & Leaves'" appear in the upper left quadrant, and the inscription "MMF #9" in the lower left. Likely created by Mary McFadden for a handbag design.
• B&W Film Negative - Mary McFadden with Basket of Wine - Frame 2 (Undated)
  B&W photograph featuring Mary McFadden posing in front of a basket of wine. Location and date are unknown. Kodak 5063 TX film negative original.
• B&W Film Negative - Mary McFadden with Basket of Wine - Frame 1 (Undated)
  B&W photograph featuring Mary McFadden posing in front of a basket of wine. Location and date are unknown. Kodak 5063 TX film negative original.
• Color Print - Mary McFadden with Murray Gell-Mann (Undated)
  A photograph of Mary McFadden and Murray Gell-Mann, Nobel Prize winner in Physics and co-author of her 2012 book. Gell-Mann was McFadden's longterm partner at the time of his death in 2019. A thank-you note from Gell-Mann is written on the back.
• Color Slide - Mary McFadden in front of Temple (Undated)
  A photograph of Mary McFadden in front of a temple during her travels; location and date are unknown. Cardboard color slide.
• Color Slide - Mary McFadden at Home (1995)
  A commissioned photograph of Mary McFadden in her Manhattan apartment. Plastic case color slide.