Rubber Tablecloth by deJongeKalff x Studio Droog

Jennifer de Jonge & Roos Kalff x Studio Droog
Rubber Tablecloth, 2013

Instead of translating the historical motif into woven or embroidered fabric, the designers recreated it in silicone rubber. The result keeps the refined, lace-like appearance of an ornamental cloth while becoming waterproof, durable and easy to clean. This contrast between historical decoration and industrial material gives the piece its character, turning a familiar domestic object into a contemporary interpretation of museum heritage.

Rubber Tablecloth’s decorative pattern was drawn from a Renaissance ornament print in the Rijksmuseum collection, associated with Albrecht Dürer and based on a design by Leonardo da Vinci.

Part of the Rijksmuseum and Studio Droog Masterpieces project.

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Launched by the Rijksmuseum in 2012, Rijksstudio opened up thousands of high-resolution images from the museum’s collection for the public to explore, download and reinterpret. The platform encouraged a more active relationship with cultural heritage, treating the collection as material for new ideas rather than as something fixed. This approach led to the Masterpieces project, developed with Studio Droog and deJongeKalff. Presented in 2013, the project translated details, forms and references from historical works into a contemporary design context.