Elna Lotus Sewing Machine
Douglas Kelley
American, born 1928
Roger Riche
French, born 1930
1965
A compact portable sewing machine in a lacquered aluminum casing, designed by Raymond Loewy to fold flat and combine practical sewing functions with sleek, modern styling.
You notice its low, streamlined silhouette and two winglike panels that open into a flat work surface, softened by rounded edges, a pale beige-and-gray finish, and prominent circular dials that give the machine a friendly, machine‑age presence.
A hallmark of 1960s industrial design, it brought modernist aesthetics, portability, and user-friendly thinking to domestic appliances, helping redefine household tools as stylish, space‑saving consumer products.
Medium
Lacquered aluminum casing
Dimensions
9 1/4 x 12 1/8 x 4 7/8" (23.5 x 30.8 x 12.4 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Gift of the manufacturer
Accession
493.1970
Palette
Art Terms
Exhibitions
