Not currently on display at the V&A

Erlenzeisig

Dress Fabric
ca. 1910-1911 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956) designed this printed silk dress fabric called ‘Erlenzeisig’ in 1910-1911. He was the head of the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshop) textile department. The Wiener Werkstätte was a guild of designers and craftsmen who came together with the idea of furthering the work and ideals of the Viennese Secession. It was founded by the architect Hoffmann and the designer Koloman Moser (1868-1918). The organisation manufactured a range of interior furnishings for the luxury goods market between 1903 and 1932. These were both handmade and industrially manufactured. The textile department opened in 1900. Its 80 members produced about 1,800 designs, mainly for printed fabrics for furnishings and apparel. The textiles were characterised by simplified forms and vivid colours. These were derived from Eastern European peasant art and geometric motifs in contemporary painting. They were an important influence on Art Deco ornamentation.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleErlenzeisig (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Printed silk
Brief description
Dress fabric 'Erlenzeisig' of printed silk, designed by Josef Hoffmann, ca. 1910-1911, Vienna
Physical description
Dress fabric of printed silk with black, yellow and blue abstract tulips and with orange leaves on a white ground.
Dimensions
  • Length: 194.5cm
  • Width: 43.5cm
Style
Credit line
Given by Miss B. Sander
Object history
Registered File number 1985/2176.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956) designed this printed silk dress fabric called ‘Erlenzeisig’ in 1910-1911. He was the head of the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshop) textile department. The Wiener Werkstätte was a guild of designers and craftsmen who came together with the idea of furthering the work and ideals of the Viennese Secession. It was founded by the architect Hoffmann and the designer Koloman Moser (1868-1918). The organisation manufactured a range of interior furnishings for the luxury goods market between 1903 and 1932. These were both handmade and industrially manufactured. The textile department opened in 1900. Its 80 members produced about 1,800 designs, mainly for printed fabrics for furnishings and apparel. The textiles were characterised by simplified forms and vivid colours. These were derived from Eastern European peasant art and geometric motifs in contemporary painting. They were an important influence on Art Deco ornamentation.
Bibliographic references
  • Völker, Angela. Textiles of the Wiener Werkstätte 1910-1932. London : Thames & Hudson, 1994, Pl. 18.
  • Samuels, Charlotte. Art Deco Textiles. London : V&A Publications, 2003, pl. 3.
Collection
Accession number
T.20-1986

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Record createdAugust 7, 2002
Record URL
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