Schumacher Elias

Schumacher is an esteemed American textile company known for its fine pillows, wallpaper and carpets. The family-owned business is still managed by its founder’s descendants. While committed to its history and traditions, the brand has evolved to maintain its vaulted status for more than 130 years.

Schumacher was established in 1889 in New York by Frederic Schumacher, who was born in France and moved to America that same year. By 1898, the Gilded Age elite were patrons of the company’s exquisite imported European fabrics. Schumacher became one of the first to produce luxury textiles in America and its fabrics began appearing in upscale properties like the Waldorf-Astoria hotel.

Schumacher grew in prestige in the early 20th century due to its partnerships with top designers such as Josef Frank and Dorothy Draper. Its textiles graced the White House and captured the attention of leading decorators, including Edith Wharton and Elsie de Wolfe.

In the 1920s, Schumacher was a favorite at Mar-a-Lago estates and Newport’s ritzy summer cottages. In the 1930s, French fashion designer Paul Poiret helped usher in the company’s Art Deco era. Schumacher textiles could be found on the sets of Hollywood films, most notably the Hydrangea Drape wallpaper in Gone with the Wind.

After World War II, Schumacher began a decades-long partnership with designer Vera Neumann, whose scarves were worn by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly. In 1955, legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright developed a textile line with Schumacher. Known as the Taliesin line, it was the first commercial venture of the architect’s career.

In 2011, Andrew and Stephen Puschel became the fifth generation of Schumacher’s descendants to join the family business. The company continues to exemplify a spirit of innovation by partnering with exciting modern designers like Miles Redd, Mary McDonald, David Kaihoi, Veere Grenney and David Oliver. Under the creative direction of Dara Caponigro, Schumacher has also partnered with the biannual luxury interiors magazine Cabana.

On 1stDibs, find Schumacher textiles, wall decorations, rugs and more.

Today, vintage pillows and throws are staples in interior decorating, especially in living rooms, bedrooms and guest rooms.

If eyes are the windows to the soul, then decorative pillows are the windows to the design aesthetic of one’s dreams. “They can be showpieces that are the last, final touch to an interior, like a jewel,” says Irish cushion designer Katie Larmour.

The use of pillows dates back thousands of years. However, the earliest examples were not the soft pillows of today as Mesopotamians and ancient Egyptians used headrests made of stone. Softer pillows became popular with the Romans and Greeks.

Contemporary, designer and vintage pillows and throws can tie in design elements from all parts of a room to contribute to a more cohesive aesthetic. Whether they incorporate the colors of the room’s curtains or rug, echo the room’s paint color or act as an accent on their own, pillows and throws fill up a space and create a cozy and put-together appearance.

There are throws and pillows to complement any design style. Whether seeking out intricately patterned mid-century modern pillows, simple designs or tribal-style wool pillows, 1stDibs has something for every home or collection.