This double-sided hanging was described as a 'real innovation' by the jurors of the Exposition Universelle at Paris in 1900, where it was awarded a gold medal, and its weaver and designer, Frida Hansen, director of the DNB, given special praise. It was designed to hang in a doorway and to be semi-transparent. The hanging was acquired directly from the Exposition for this museum.
Physical description
Tapestry hanging (door curtain), woven, hand-spun and hand-dyed wools
Place of Origin
Oslo, Norway (made)
Date
1900 (made)
Artist/maker
Hansen, Frida, born 1855 - died 1935 (designer)
Det Norske Billedvoeveri (makers)
Materials and Techniques
Tapestry woven in hand-spun and hand-dyed wools
Marks and inscriptions
DNB 1900 XIV
Dimensions
Length: 376 cm, Width: 129.5 cm, Length: 345 cm
Object history note
Awarded a gold medal at the Exposition Universelle at Paris in 1900.
Designed to hang in a doorway and to be semi-transparent, the fragility of this heavy hanging means it must now be supported on a backboard.
Historical context note
At the time of the manufacture Frida Hansen was the Artistic Director of 'Det Norske Billedvoeveri'.
Descriptive line
Woven tapestry door curtain, designed by Frida Hansen, made by Det Norske Billedvoeveri; Norway (Oslo), 1900.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Greenhalgh, Paul Ed., Art Nouveau : 1890 - 1914. London: V&A Publications, 2000. 464 p., 11.11pl, ill. ISBN 1851772774
Exhibition History
Weaving the Century: Tapestry from the Dovecot Studios 1912 - 2012 (Dovecot Studios 13/07/2012-07/10/2012)
Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World's Fairs 1851-1939 (Nelson Atkins Museum of Art 14/04/2012-19/08/2012)
Life and Art: Arts and Crafts from Morris to Mingei (Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art, Nagoya 12/06/2009-16/08/2009)
Life and Art: Arts and Crafts from Morris to Mingei (Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo 24/01/2009-05/04/2009)
Life and Art: Arts and Crafts from Morris to Mingei (The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto 13/09/2008-09/11/2008)
Art Nouveau - 1890-1914 (Victoria and Albert Museum 06/04/2000-30/07/2000)
Exposition Universelle Paris (01/01/1900-31/12/1900)
Labels and date
'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900'
At the time of the manufacture Frida Hansen was the Artistic Director of 'Det Norske Billedvoeveri'. The tapestry was exhibited at the Exposition universelle, Paris 1900 (class 70). Designed to hang in a doorway and to be semi-transparent, the fragility of this heavy hanging means it must now be supported on a backboard. [1987-2006]
Materials
Wool (textile)
Techniques
Dyeing; Hand spinning
Subjects depicted
Flower; Plant; Zigzags
Categories
Textiles; Interiors; Tapestry
Collection code
T&F
