August Pattern – Ondine

Ondine captured the psychedelic aesthetic of the 1960s with its fluid, water-like effects.

The psychedelic art movement had an effect not only on music, but also on many aspects of popular culture and interiors.

The 1963 Ondine pattern was named for a water nymph in French mythology, Undine. With its swirling colors and ripple effects, it captured the dynamic forces of the Age of Aquarius beautifully.

Ondine was designed by in-house Formica^® laminate engineers playing with a marbelizing process that wasn’t publicized at the time.

According to a redacted press release later unearthed in the Smithsonian, the team put paint drops into a water bath and swirled them into distinctive configurations. They then laid paper over the wet pigments to create a nonrepeating design.

Ondine was a predecessor to nonrepeat and larger repeat patterns, including the 180fx^® laminate collection introduced in 2009. More recent painterly looks like White Painted Marble, Black Painted Marble and the Watercolor Series were also created using a similar process.

Learn more about Ondine in this video: