Fashioning Felt
This exhibition was on display from March 06, 2009 to September 07, 2009.
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Felt is at once ancient and primitive and thoroughly modern. Thought to be one of the earliest manmade fabrics—originating over eight thousand years ago—it has recently been explored by architects and designers as an exciting “new” material. This simplest of fabrics achieves a unique sense of luxury and authenticity, derived from the humbleness of the raw material, the evidence of the hand, and the resonance of its long history.
Felt is made through the vigorous application of water and energy to fiber; only wool will felt because the scaly outer surface of the fibers allows them to interlock. The term felt applies to a number of synthetic materials, but none have the range of performance characteristics of the all-natural, “wet-processed” original. Fashioning Felt examines the evolution of felt making and use, focusing on concepts from across the design field: the efficient and sustainable use of resources; flexibility in manufacturing processes and finished products; and the integration of new technologies with handcraft.
- Bless You Chair
- wool felt, gelatin.
- Gift of Louise Campbell.
- 2009-22-1
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Hanging (Switzerland)
- merino wool, silk.
- Gift of Ursula Suter.
- 2009-24-1
- Mosen (China)
- wool.
- Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
- 2005-2-1
- Panel, Fluid Green
- wool.
- Museum purchase through gift of John Pierpont Morgan and Mrs. Hamilton Fish....
- 2008-17-1
- This object is part of the Textiles collection.
- Winged Vessel II Vessel
- wool felt, bast fibers, leaf, urushi lacquer.
- Gift of Anonymous Donor.
- 2009-41-1
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Kepenek (shepherd's Cloak)
- wool.
- Gift of Christine Martens.
- 2009-33-1
- Relief Chair
- wool felt, stainless steel.
- Gift of Ben K. Mickus.
- 2009-21-1
- This object was made by Sutherland Felt.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Hanging, Structures and Surfaces
- merino wool, silk.
- Gift of Ursula Suter.
- 2009-24-2
- Kepenek (shepherd's Cloak)
- wool.
- Gift of Christine Martens.
- 2009-33-1
- Relief Chair
- wool felt, stainless steel.
- Gift of Ben K. Mickus.
- 2009-21-1
- This object was made by Sutherland Felt.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Bless You Chair
- wool felt, gelatin.
- Gift of Louise Campbell.
- 2009-22-1
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Winged Vessel II Vessel
- wool felt, bast fibers, leaf, urushi lacquer.
- Gift of Anonymous Donor.
- 2009-41-1
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Hanging (Switzerland)
- merino wool, silk.
- Gift of Ursula Suter.
- 2009-24-1
- Hanging, Structures and Surfaces
- merino wool, silk.
- Gift of Ursula Suter.
- 2009-24-2
- Mosen (China)
- wool.
- Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
- 2005-2-1
- Panel, Fluid Green
- wool.
- Museum purchase through gift of John Pierpont Morgan and Mrs. Hamilton Fish....
- 2008-17-1
- This object is part of the Textiles collection.
- Panel, Composition (DH/WD/SI 001)
- merino wool, drenthe heath wool, wensleydale wool, wild silk, and cotton gauze.
- Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
- 2005-3-1
- Panel, Composition (DH/WD/SI 001)
- merino wool, drenthe heath wool, wensleydale wool, wild silk, and cotton gauze.
- Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
- 2005-3-1
- Panel, Composition (SI001)
- merino wool, wold silk, cotton gauze.
- Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
- 2005-3-2
- Panel, Composition (SI001)
- merino wool, wold silk, cotton gauze.
- Museum purchase from General Acquisitions Endowment Fund.
- 2005-3-2
- Cushion, The Slice
- wool.
- Gift of Lene Frantzen.
- 2009-23-1-a/j
- Cushion, The Slice
- wool.
- Gift of Lene Frantzen.
- 2009-23-1-a/j