Object Notes

One of the most dramatic Indonesian textiles is the ceremonial hanging called palepai, a long, horizontal cloth whose stylized motifs include a ship with scrolled prows (the central portion of this example), animals bearing riders, and architectural structures or trees.

Hans Christiansen, a member of the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony alongside fellow designer Peter Behrens, spent his early career focused on interiors; however, he also produced designs for select decorative objects—such as textiles, porcelains, tableware, and silver flatware—to outfit his interiors, including this Darmstadter Stil 

Hans Christiansen, a member of the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony alongside fellow designer Peter Behrens, spent his early career focused on interiors; however, he also produced designs for select decorative objects—such as textiles, porcelains, tableware, and silver flatware—to outfit his interiors, including this Darmstadter Stil 

Decorated with swirling vines and bellflowers, the ornamental scheme on this souvenir program cover and card case suggests the Wiener Werkstätte’s return after 1905 to more ornamental schemes than in its prior two years.