Tapestry
Classification(s):
Textile
Date: 1961
Organisation: Goeblin-Studio
Maker: Gret Mohrhardt
Maker: Inge Richter
Dimensions:
600 × 790 mm (60 × 79 cm)
Medium: Wool
Object number: CC058
Place of Production:Germany
DescriptionHand-woven tapestry, or rug, illustrating a religious scene - possibly the Nativity. The image was appropriated from an 11th century Spanish altarpiece. Made by German weavers Gret Mohrhardt and Inge Richter, c.1961. Two animals, possibly a goat and a horse overlook a haloed figure wrapped in striped fabric. The tapestry is hand-woven in a mix of (hand-dyed) orange, green, purple, brown and red shades of wool. The textile is fringed along 2 sides.
Sewn onto the back of the altarpiece is a laminated label " “Christmas”, from an 11th Century Spanish altarpiece Gobelin-Studio Offenbach / Main Gret Mohrhardt and Inge Richter”. There is also a small label to the reverse (detached) which reads “Spanish Altarpiece “Christmas Tapestry” ”
Sewn onto the back of the altarpiece is a laminated label " “Christmas”, from an 11th Century Spanish altarpiece Gobelin-Studio Offenbach / Main Gret Mohrhardt and Inge Richter”. There is also a small label to the reverse (detached) which reads “Spanish Altarpiece “Christmas Tapestry” ”
ProvenanceThis object was originally acquired for the Inner London Education Authority’s (ILEA) ‘Circulating Design Scheme’ collection.
The collection was instigated by the London Country Council (later the Greater London Council) and the Council of Industrial Design (COID). The collection’s original purpose was concerned with the teaching and dissemination of modern, ‘good design’.
The collection was established in 1951/52 as the ‘Experiment in Design Appreciation’, later renamed the ‘Circulating Design Scheme’.
The Circulating Design Scheme lent boxed showcases to London schools. The showcases contained handling objects, material samples and interpretation on a specific subject.
COID withdrew its involvement in the Scheme in 1957. After which time, it was managed exclusively by the London County Council from 1957-1963.
After the administrative restructuring of London authorities, the Scheme was jointly managed by the Greater London Council and the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) from 1963 – 1976.
The Scheme was operational until 1976 when the collections were withdrawn from circulation. ILEA was abolished in the late 1980s and the collection was donated to Camberwell College of Arts in 1989/90.
ILEA was responsible for secondary and tertiary education in the inner London boroughs, this included Camberwell.
The collection was instigated by the London Country Council (later the Greater London Council) and the Council of Industrial Design (COID). The collection’s original purpose was concerned with the teaching and dissemination of modern, ‘good design’.
The collection was established in 1951/52 as the ‘Experiment in Design Appreciation’, later renamed the ‘Circulating Design Scheme’.
The Circulating Design Scheme lent boxed showcases to London schools. The showcases contained handling objects, material samples and interpretation on a specific subject.
COID withdrew its involvement in the Scheme in 1957. After which time, it was managed exclusively by the London County Council from 1957-1963.
After the administrative restructuring of London authorities, the Scheme was jointly managed by the Greater London Council and the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) from 1963 – 1976.
The Scheme was operational until 1976 when the collections were withdrawn from circulation. ILEA was abolished in the late 1980s and the collection was donated to Camberwell College of Arts in 1989/90.
ILEA was responsible for secondary and tertiary education in the inner London boroughs, this included Camberwell.
NotesThis object was circulated to London schools as part of the Inner London Education Authority’s (I.L.E.A) Circulating Design Scheme, which operated from 1951-1976. The tapestry featured in the ‘Folk Art’ group in an unnumbered case. The boxed showcase displayed “all the crafts that belong to people of all places”. It included objects from Spain, Poland, Holland, Mexico, Peru and Thailand. The original supplier from whom this object was acquired is unknown. The photograph does not have an associated record card.