Mask thumbnail 1
Mask thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Mask

Tapestry
1986 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Established by the Government of Victoria in 1976, the Victorian Tapestry Workshop has an international reputation for its handwoven tapestries. The majority of its tapestries are large-scale coporate and public commissions, but there has also been a demand from individual clients keen to own small examples of work. In order to make its tapestries more widely available, the workshop put together a collection of specially designed small tapestries, to be woven in limited editions. This is a prototype, woven on a domestic wire rack and serves as a preliminary idea by the designer for a miniature tapestry which the V&A exhibited and subsequently purchased in 1992 (T.2-1995).


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMask (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Wool tapestry woven on wire frame
Brief description
Woven preliminary on wire frame for a miniature tapestry panel by Murray Walker, Melbourne, 1986
Physical description
Model for "Mask" tapestry. The tapestry is attached to a wire frame standing on four wire legs. There is a woven mask attached to the centre of the frame. To the left of the mask, there is a fork made from grey cotton, a grey and silver thread and a black and white thread. The shape is formed by wrapping the threads around the wire frame itself. To the right of the mask there is a matching knife. The central motif has a square head with a large, slightly raised mouth and rectangular shoulders.
Dimensions
  • Width: 20cm
  • Height: 25cm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
'Victorian Tapestry Workshop/Artist:Murray Walker/Weaver: Cresside Jolles/1986' (Label; English; Paper adhesive label at the center of the back of the wire frame.)
Credit line
Given by the Victorian Tapestry Workshop
Object history
The original weaving, "Mask", also in the Museum's collection was produced in 1986 for an exhibition held to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Victorian Tapestry Workshop. The sculpture is a prototype for this piece.
Production
Attribution note: Preliminary scheme for tapestry T.2-1995.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Established by the Government of Victoria in 1976, the Victorian Tapestry Workshop has an international reputation for its handwoven tapestries. The majority of its tapestries are large-scale coporate and public commissions, but there has also been a demand from individual clients keen to own small examples of work. In order to make its tapestries more widely available, the workshop put together a collection of specially designed small tapestries, to be woven in limited editions. This is a prototype, woven on a domestic wire rack and serves as a preliminary idea by the designer for a miniature tapestry which the V&A exhibited and subsequently purchased in 1992 (T.2-1995).
Associated object
T.2-1995 (Original)
Collection
Accession number
T.228-1999

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Record createdFebruary 24, 2000
Record URL
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