Collection Stories

From The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Asafo Flag from Ghana

Post author By GW Museum
Post date April 10, 2024

Asafo flag (frankka), Ghana, Fante people, mid-20th century. Cotton; appliqué; 112 x 168 cm. The Textile Museum Collection 1999.39.1. Gift of Mary Hunt Kahlenberg and Robert T. Coffland.

All Europe

Sacred Textile Fragment from Germany

Post author By GW Museum
Post date February 14, 2024

A fragment of woven silk and metallic-wrapped yarn with embroidery depicting Saint Andrew the Apostle wearing a green robe surrounded by red and silver vines and foliage.

Sacred textile fragment; Germany, Cologne; c. 1450. Linen, metallic-wrapped yarn, silk; compound weave, embroidery; 31 x 15 cm. Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection T-0735.

All Indigenous Americas

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.