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Object Timeline

1955

  • Work on this object began.

1975

  • Work on this object ended.

1993

  • We acquired this object.

2009

2012

2014

2025

  • You found it!

Hanging (USA)

This is a Hanging. It was designed by Trude Guermonprez. It is dated 1955–1975 and we acquired it in 1993. Its medium is silk, wool, cellophane and its technique is two intercrossed plain weave structures (double cloth). It is a part of the Textiles department.

Guermonprez, like Anni Albers, admired the structural integrity of double cloth, with its 3D, intersecting planes. Here, she used over-twisted yarns in one plane to create an interlocking grid of textures in off-white. The crepe effect also draws the black wefts into lines of abstracted calligraphic script.

This object was donated by Eric and Sylvia Elsesser. It is credited Gift of Mr. Eric and Mrs. Sylvia Elsesser, The Trude Guermonprez Archives.

  • Hanging (England)
  • linen, metal rods.
  • Museum purchase from Friends of Textiles Fund.
  • 1976-37-1

Our curators have highlighted 5 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

  • Textile, #2765 Yuragi (Fluctuation)
  • warp and weft of polyester monofilament, supplementary weft of washi....
  • Gift of The Museum of Modern Art, courtesy of the designer.
  • 2002-17-5
  •
  • Hanging, First Snow
  • cotton warp, wool weft.
  • Gift of Mr. Eric and Mrs. Sylvia Elsesser, The Trude Guermonprez Archives.
  • 1993-121-1

Its dimensions are

H x W: 203.2 x 72.4 cm (80 x 28 1/2 in.)

It is inscribed

Label glued to side hem, "HANDWOVEN, TRUDE GUERMONPREZ."

Cite this object as

Hanging (USA); Designed by Trude Guermonprez (American, b. Germany, 1910–1976); silk, wool, cellophane; H x W: 203.2 x 72.4 cm (80 x 28 1/2 in.); Gift of Mr. Eric and Mrs. Sylvia Elsesser, The Trude Guermonprez Archives; 1993-121-25

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Making Design.

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<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18643315/ |title=Hanging (USA) |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=19 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>