Collection Stories

From The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

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.

All Europe

William Morris Curtain

Post author By GW Museum
Post date August 9, 2023

Detail of a textile with a repeating floral pattern in blue, green and yellow

William Morris (British, 1834-1896), curtain, c. 1883. Plain weave, block printed; 113 x 89 cm. The Textile Museum Collection 1991.8.1. Gift of Nora Stone Smith.

All Oceania

Skirt from Papua New Guinea

Post author By GW Museum
Post date July 12, 2023

Detail of a beige textile with four stylized animals with long bodies and four limbs in a row

Skirt; Oceania, New Guinea. Bark, beaten, 146 x 87 cm. The Textile Museum Collection 1966.57.7. Museum purchase.

All Islamic World

Suzani from Uzbekistan

Post author By GW Museum
Post date June 28, 2023

Detail of a textile with a cream background and sprays of embroidered flowers

Suzani hanging; Uzbekistan, Nurata or Bukhara; 19th century. Cotton, silk; balanced plain weave, embroidery; 215 x 149 cm. The Textile Museum Collection 4.1. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers prior to 1951.