Collection Stories

From The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Mola Blouse from Panama

Post author By GW Museum
Post date January 10, 2024

Colorful textile depicting leaves and a parrot on the right and another bird on the left in a reverse applique technique.

Mola blouse; Panama, San Blas Islands; 20th century. Cotton; plain weave, machine woven, appliqué, reverse appliqué; 60 x 62 cm. The Textile Museum Collection 1985.56.28. Donated from the Collection of Jonathan Leonard.

All East Asia

Ceremonial Textile Fragment from Tibet

Post author By GW Museum
Post date December 13, 2023

Detail from a textile flag or banner spelling out a Tibetan mantra. The piece has a dark blue silk sateen ground with gilted leather script appliquéd with metallic thread.

Ceremonial textile fragment, Tibet, 17th-19th century. Gold leaf, leather, metallic thread, sateen, silk; embroidery, appliqué; 25 x 41 cm. Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection T-1086.

Africa All

Chief’s Cape from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Post author By GW Museum
Post date November 8, 2023

Top of dress form clothed in a cape made of raffia fiber

Cape (kinzembe or zamba kya mfumu), Kongo-related peoples, Democratic Republic of the Congo or Angola, possibly 19th century. Raffia palm fiber, looped, 64 x 165 x 90 cm. The Textile Museum Collection 1962.1.14. Museum purchase.

All Contemporary

Virginia Lee Demetrios’ “Finnish Hop”

Post author By GW Museum
Post date October 11, 2023

A printed cotton furnishing fragment, depicting dancing couples in four s-curve bands of alternating brown and white. Each couple is side by side, with arms around each other. Two selvages. — Photo by Bruce M. White Photography.

Virginia Lee Demetrios (American, 1909-1968) for F. Schumacher & Co., “Finnish Hop,” 1943 (designed). Cotton; printed, twill weave; 32 x 94 cm. Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection T-2137.

All Islamic World

Cradle Cover from Uzbekistan

Post author By GW Museum
Post date September 13, 2023

Yellow, tented textile with a vertical slit down the center and red and white patterning

Cradle cover; Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Bukhara; 1870-1890. Silk, cotton; warp-faced plain weave, warp ikat, calendared; 71 x 90 cm. The Textile Museum Collection 2005.36.82A. The Megalli Collection.