?The New America Collection?? Bloomingdale?s Celebrates American Style with the Exclusive Launch of the American Folk Art Museum?s Furniture Collection

Bloomingdale's pays tribute to America's history of fine furniture with the exclusive introduction of the American Folk Art Museum's new America Collection?. Tricia Foley, designer and author, created the new America Collection? for the Museum drawing inspiration from the pure and functional design elements of the Federal period and the Museum's permanent collection and archives. In collaboration with Bloomingdale's Home Design Studio, Foley and the Museum chose twenty-seven pieces for the initial launch of the new America Collection?.

Featuring clean lines and delicate proportions, each piece was crafted to stand alone, whether incorporated into a traditional or modern setting. The new America Collection?, "With its period style and distinctive detailing, boasts versatility and authenticity that are certain to make its pieces the antiques of tomorrow," said Lester Gribetz, Bloomingdale's Vice President of Home Furnishings.

The emphasis on livable but luxurious furniture translated into an eclectic mix for the dining room, living room, bedroom and an assortment of occasional pieces. Design elements of the America Collection? include detailed carving, reeding and inlays, as well as square tapered or turned legs and subtle finishes of rich mahogany, period rubbed black, rustic distressed cream and painted putty.

The Museum's home furnishings program, established in 1978, represents one aspect of the Museum's educational outreach program as well as providing an important source of income for the Museum's exhibition and public programs. Alice Hoffman the Museum's Director of Licensing notes, "The new America Collection? is designed for today's lifestyle providing comfort and grace in a contemporary way, while remaining true to the heritage of each piece and maintaining the aura of the design period. The Collection brings within reach of the public the very best of the past to be enjoyed for generations to come."

The new America Collection? will be available beginning in March in select Bloomingdale's stores across the country. Prices range from $740 (wood accent table) to $9,335 (armoire).

Founded in 1961, the America Folk Art Museum, located in the heart of New York City, has been introducing audiences to the story of folk art for more than four decades. The Museum is the only major urban cultural center in the United States dedicated to the preservation, exhibition and study of the finest examples of 18th and 19th century traditional folk art and the compelling work of contemporary self-taught artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. For information about the Museum's public programs, exhibitions and membership benefits, please log onto www.folkartmuseum.org.

Bloomingdale's, a division of Federated Department Stores, was founded in 1872 and with the opening of Soho, will operate 32 stores in New York, New Jersey, Nevada, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, Florida, California and Georgia. For website access, please log onto www.bloomingdales.com.