Hanging
1966 (made), 1926 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Anni Albers studied weaving because it was the only course open to women at the Weimar Bauhaus, an institution founded by Walter Gropius (1883-1969) to train architects, artists and industrial designers. Its aim was to unite architecture and the fine and applied arts. Anni Albers often looked to her colleague Gunta Stölzl for inspiration and technical advice and eventually succeeded her as Director of the weaving workshop.
Albers argued for the need for craft-based design. She encouraged designers to become familiar with the fibres and textures which would be used and not to think of design solely in terms of linear patterns.
The original weaving of this important hanging was destroyed during the Second World War. It was rewoven by Gunta Stölzl and 'AA' is embroidered in the bottom right hand corner.
Albers argued for the need for craft-based design. She encouraged designers to become familiar with the fibres and textures which would be used and not to think of design solely in terms of linear patterns.
The original weaving of this important hanging was destroyed during the Second World War. It was rewoven by Gunta Stölzl and 'AA' is embroidered in the bottom right hand corner.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Triple weave, silk and rayon
Brenda Keneghan of V&A Conservation Science carried out tests on the fibres in January 2020. The results were as follows:
White warp = Cuprammonium rayon
White weft = silk
Yellow warp = Hemp or ramie or cuprammonium silk – too close to really distinguish between them.
Black warp = Hemp or ramie or cuprammonium silk – too close to really distinguish between them.
Frances Hartog of V&A textile conservation added the following comment: Cuprammonium ‘silk’ is a type of rayon. I think this is more likely to be correct than the possibility of hemp being used.
However, in archival documents, Gunta Stölzl says the hanging is of 'silk and cotton'. |
| Brief description | Triple weave wall-hanging of silk and rayon, designed by Anni Albers, 1926/7, woven under the supervision of Gunta Stölzl, Zurich, Switzerland, 1966. |
| Physical description | Hanging of triple weave construction of cream silk and black and yellow rayon. With a geometric design in black, white and yellow rectangular divisions. Silk warp and weft. The grey tones are created by weft and warp combination of two sets of warp threads, one set white and the other black. The rectangles are formed by a simple tabby weave. The hanging is sewn to a grey linen and the last two inches, top and bottom, are sewn over to form sleeves for the battens. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'AA' [monogram] (Embroidered in black thread below the right corner) |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Registered File Number 67/3533 taken from Departmental record |
| Production | The original weaving of this important hanging was destroyed during the Second World War; it was rewoven under the supervision of Gunta Stölzl in an edition of three. One of these is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 'AA' is embroidered in the bottom right hand corner. |
| Summary | Anni Albers studied weaving because it was the only course open to women at the Weimar Bauhaus, an institution founded by Walter Gropius (1883-1969) to train architects, artists and industrial designers. Its aim was to unite architecture and the fine and applied arts. Anni Albers often looked to her colleague Gunta Stölzl for inspiration and technical advice and eventually succeeded her as Director of the weaving workshop. Albers argued for the need for craft-based design. She encouraged designers to become familiar with the fibres and textures which would be used and not to think of design solely in terms of linear patterns. The original weaving of this important hanging was destroyed during the Second World War. It was rewoven by Gunta Stölzl and 'AA' is embroidered in the bottom right hand corner. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.534-1968 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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