The wallcovering collection was inspired by the Museum of Extinct Animals, an exploration of long lost animals that are still an inspiration today. With the Museum of Extinct Animals, Moooi celebrates nature’s diversity, stimulating to stretch the limits of imagination……Within the Extinct Animals Wallcovering Collection, each pattern is inspired by the characteristics of one extinct animal.
“Most of the artists are unknown, as they were drawn by explorers on their travels,” notes Poels. “It was such a joy to discover so many hidden treasures and then to decide which ones to work with.”
Moooi selected the most interesting and inspiring creatures based off their personalities and traits that could be interpreted into different designs. For example, the pattern Calligraphy Bird Jacquard is inspired by the mating ritual of a male Calligraphy Bird – the blue hues of his ornate collar of feathers and how they shine in the sun during his back-and-forth movement are rendered onto the fabric.
What was once lost is now being found again in modern design company Moooi’s latest North American debut: the Extinct Animal Fabrics collection. After traveling the world and digging through dusty museum archives and old treasures, the Moooi design team discovered the inspiration it was searching for with its new line in the form of meticulous drawings of lost and ancient imaginary creatures.
Extinct animals, like the armored boar, the dodo bird and bearded leopard, have come to life as 12 symbolic fabrics and leathers (check out the slideshow below), each of which celebrates nature’s diversity and highlights past and present expeditions around the globe.
