Collection Stories

From The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

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.

All Europe

Tapestry Fragment from Belgium

Post author By GW Museum
Post date June 14, 2023

Detail of a tapestry featuring a boy holding an instrument to his mouth surrounded by foliage

Textile fragment, Belgium, 17th century. Wool, linen; tapestry weave; 30 x 38 cm. The Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection T-0442b.

All South Asia

Horse Headcover from India

Post author By GW Museum
Post date May 24, 2023

Detail of a colorful textile covered in small, circular mirrors and embroidery with two small holes next to one another

Ceremonial horse headcover; India, Gujarat, Saurashtra region; 19th century. Cotton, applied mirrors, silk floss; chain-stitch embroidery, interlacing; 40 x 41 cm. The Textile Museum Collection 1983.42.17. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Smith, Jr.

All East Asia

Dong Shoes from China

Post author By GW Museum
Post date May 10, 2023

Side view of a pointed, flat shoe with bright embroidery covering the top, front portion of the shoe

Shoes; China, Guizhou Province, Qiandongnan Region; Dong people; 20th century. Cotton, silk; embroidered, assembled; 8 x 26 x 7 cm. The Textile Museum Collection 2015.8.230a-b. The Bea Roberts Collection of Chinese Minority Textiles