Intrinsic Beauty: Celebrating the Art of Textiles at the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

 

Buddhist Priest’s Mantle | Jiasha
China
Silk; Metallic-Wrapped Thread; Paint
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1949
51.66
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

 
 

Intrinsic Beauty

Celebrating The Art of Textiles

Through June 14, 2025

 

In 1925, George Hewitt Myers founded The Textile Museum with his global collection of carpets and textiles prized for their “intrinsic beauty of design, color and technique.” This exhibition brings together iconic masterworks from The Textile Museum Collection. As the museum launches its centennial year, Intrinsic Beauty celebrates textile making as one of the world’s oldest and most sophisticated art forms. 

Intrinsic Beauty: Celebrating the Art of Textiles — a collaboration among museum curators Sumru Belger Krody, Lee Talbot and Shelley Burian — includes textiles rarely exhibited due to their size or fragility, such as an enormous Safavid carpet that may have decorated a Persian shrine. Other treasures include a rare embroidery from 12th-century Japan depicting the Amid Buddha accompanying devotees to paradise; a woven 14th-15th century curtain fragment that once hung in the Alhambra Palace in Spain; and a colorful tie-dye alpaca hair tunic (c. 800-1000) from Peru's Wari culture.

The juxtaposition of textiles from different regions and time periods creates conversations that shed light on cross-cultural connections and the preeminent roles textiles have played in the social, political, religious, commercial and artistic life of many communities.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Exhibition Preview

 

Ecclesiastical Garment
Türkiye, Iran
Ottoman; Safavid
Silk
Gift of Neutrogena Corporation
1994.27.2
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Asmalyk
Central Asia, Turkmenistan
Turkmen; Tekke
Wool
Gift of Arthur D. Jenkins
1980.13.2
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Curtain
Algeria; Algiers
Arab
18th century-19th century
Linen; Silk
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1924.
76.1
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Hanging
Japan; Kamakura
13th century
Silk, human hair
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1951
52.20A
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Tent Hanging
India; Golconda
18th century
Cotton
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1947
6.129
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Palepai
Indonesia; Sumatra
Paminggir
Cotton
Museum Purchase
1962.41.1
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Chair cover
China, Qianlong period (1736-1795).
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1956.
51.85.
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Tabard
Peru
Late Intermediate Period.
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1941.
91.395.
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Sarape
Mexico
1840-1870
Cotton, wool
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers prior to 1956
87.4
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Fragment from a curtain
Spain; Granada
Islamic, Spanish
Late 14th century-early 15th century
Silk
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1931
84.11
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Tunic
Peru
750-950
Camelid hair
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1941
91.341
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Woman’s Ceremonial Skirt | Tapis Inu
Indonesia; Sumatra
Cotton, silk
Ruth Lincoln Fisher Memorial Fund
1982.37.2
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Dragon Robe
China
Macchu
First quarter 19th century
Silk; metallic-wrapped yarn; gilt paper; button; metal
Gift of Brigadier General Regan Fuller.
1973.30.1
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Carpet
Northwestern Iran; Tabriz
Safavid
c. 1500
Cotton, wool
Gift of Joseph V. McMullan in memory of George Hewitt Myers
1960.9.1
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Mantle
Peru
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1933
91.192
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Hanging
Peru
Second half 17th century
Cotton; camelid hair; silk
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1951
91.504
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Carpet
Central Asia; Turkmenistan
Turkmen
18th century
Wool
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1914
R37.5.2
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Carpet with the joined coat of arms of Alfonso V of Aragon and Maria of Castile
Spain
Spanish; Andalusian
1415-1458
Goat Hair
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1944.
R44.4.1
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Dragon Carpet
Caucasus, Southern
Mid-17th century
Wool
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1916.
R36.1.1
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Carpet
Türkiye; Eastern Anatolia
17th century
Goat Hair
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1927
R34.34.1
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Carpet
Türkiye, Ushak
Ottoman
Wool
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1918
R34.1.1
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

Kilim
Iran; Kashan
Persian, Safavid
Late 16th century-early 17th century
Silk
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1926.
R33.28.1
Courtesy of the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

 
 
News 15Editorial TeamArt of the Ancestors, Steven G. Alpert, Asian Art, Island Southeast Asian Art, Oceanic Art, Asiatica, Ethnographica, Ethnographic Art, Art Collection, Fine Art, Primitive Art, Indonesian Art, Tribal Art, Eyes of the Ancestors, Dr. Reimar Schefold