Mira JedwaBNIK Van doren
Only 21 years old when she was commissioned to design enamel tabletops for the SS United States’ Observation Lounge, Mira Jedwabnik (now Mira Jedwabnik Van Doren) was one of the youngest artists working on the famed liner. This commission was a breakthrough opportunity for the young artist, who was born in Vilna, Poland, in 1929. When she was 10 years old, Mira and her family made a trip to the United States to see the New York World’s Fair, not realizing they would be unable to return home as a devastating war broke out. As a Jewish family able to escape the Nazis, the Jedwabniks settled in New York City where Mira was took full advantage of the arts the city had to offer.
Image in the collection of the SS United States Conservancy
Mira Jedwabnik Van Doren’s deep blue tabletops coordinated with the blue tones found throughout the Observation Lounge. Called “Constellation Tables,”Jedwabnik Van Doren’s 14 tables with enamel tops mimic the night sky. Each is a varying shade of blue one might see in the sky while out at sea, and they are complete with a sprinkle of white enamel constellations! Jedwabnik Van Doren’s work on the SS United States led into a prolific artistic career—hundreds of her works can be found in hotels, office buildings, and synagogues throughout the nation.
Close up image of Jedwabnik’s Constellation Tables. Jedwabnik used varying shades of blue to mimic the night’s sky, applying texture through whites and light blues. The starkly contrasting white spots represent constellations one might see while travelling aboard the SS United States at night, especially at sea when the lack of light pollution would have made the stars particularly visible. Image courtesy of Mira Jedwabnik Van Doren.