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Introduction

A World of Costume and Textiles

"Tapestries through the Ages"
September 22 - November 12, 1989

The first gifts of costume and textiles came into the collection of the Rhode Island School of Design in 1887, even before the Museum began to collect officially in 1891. Early donations included a pair of American Indian moccasins, tapa cloth, and a Siamese fan soon to be increased by donations of Italian vestments, Kashmir shawls, and American quilts and coverlets. Japanese textiles, stencils, and sample books that form the nucleus of the Museum's outstanding Japanese collection were gifts of several early donors.

Since then, the collection, which spans two millennia, has acquired outstanding examples from nearly every culture in the world. Particularly strong in Pre-Columbian textiles from Peru, Coptic textiles from 4th to 7th century Egypt, European costume and textiles from the 16th through the 18th centuries, and French and American 20th century designs, the collection is also rich in Asian textiles and costume, thanks to Miss Lucy Truman Aldrich of Providence, who gave her entire collection of Indian, Indonesian, Chinese, and Japanese textiles collected on the spot in the 1920s. Her collection of robes from the Japanese Noh drama has been called the finest in the United States.

The exhibition has been selected from among the most important examples in the collection, and includes everything from African blankets to 20th century European costume. Nearly all the objects are listed and described in the accompanying handbook of the collection, A World of Costume and Textiles. Elsewhere in the Museum are other costumes and textiles that are part of the exhibition; teh Flemish tapestry on the cover of A World of Costume and Textiles is in the Northern Renaissance Gallery on A floor; and many ethnographic textiles are in teh Ethnographic Gallery on E floor. Each one has a tag indicating that it is part of the exhibition.

Selected Objects

Z0006279.jpg

Indian, India

Palampore, ca. 1900
No Image Available

Pierre François Cozette, weaver

Gobelins Tapestry, 1766-1789
Z0020439.jpg

Nabby Martin

Sampler, 1786
Z0006255.jpg

Sumatran

Selendang, 1800s
Z0014056.jpg

American

blanket (covering), ca. 1720
Z0013099.jpg

Peruvian

textile
Z0019121.jpg

Belgian

collar (neckwear), late 1800s
Z0026875.jpg

Indian

Tent Hanging (qanat), ca. 1645
Z0000089.jpg

French

Stomacher, 1760-1770
Z0018580.jpg

Diné (Navajo) Native North American

Women’s wearing blanket, 1870-80
Z0040540.jpg

Arabic-Egyptian

Printed cotton fragments, 700-899
Z0031107.jpg

Indian, India Gujarat

Textile fragment, 1400s
Z0006383.jpg

European

shawl, ca. 1845
Z0005397.jpg

Persian

textile
Z0006265.jpg

Indonesian, Indonesia Sumatra

Ulos Mangiring, early 1900s
RISDM 35-391 v_01.jpg

Chinese Qing, China

Woman's imperial Manchu coat (Ch'i-Fu), ca. 1873
Z0014511.jpg

Irish

linen, early 1700s
No Image Available

Italian

collar, 1700s
RISDM 1986-084-1 v_01.jpg

Hausa Nigerian

Agbade, early 1900s
Z0003200.jpg

Coptic Egyptian, Egypt

cushion cover, 600s - 700s
No Image Available

Philippe de la Salle, designer

fabric length; textile length; wall panel, ca. 1785
Z0008027.jpg

Chinese, China USA

evening dress, ca. 1830
Z0022787.jpg

Egyptian

fabric length; textile length, 1200s - 1400s
Z0044506.jpg

Italian, Sicily

Textile fragment, ca. 1500
Z0020440.jpg

English

Man's nightcap, ca. 1580
Z0003357.jpg

French

Fan, early 1700s
Z0048612.jpg

Ainu Japanese

Man's robe (attusi), 1800s
Z0025981.jpg

Japanese

Kimono, 1615-1868
Z0053655.jpg

Turkish

chasuble, 1500-1549
Z0006280.jpg

Indian

Palampore, ca. 1700
Z0031988.jpg

Azerbaijani, Southern Caucasus Northwestern Iran

Cover, 1600s-1700s
Z0000519.jpg

French

Waistcoat, ca. 1760
Z0007804.jpg

Italian, Venice

Velvet, late 1300s
Z0018585.jpg

Spanish-American

Man's wearing blanket (Rio Grande Style sarape), 1850-1870
Z0000089.jpg

French

Petticoat, 1760-1770
Z0005760.jpg

Egyptian Middle Kingdom Old Kingdom, Egypt

Burial cloth, before 1450 BCE
Z0007023.jpg

Cynthia Schira, designer

Night Games, 1981
Z0023122.jpg

Egyptian

textile, 300s CE-400s CE
Z0007851.jpg

William Morris & Co., manufacturer

Tapestry fragment, Late 1800s
Z0028033.jpg

Indian

Jacket, 1800s
Z0000527.jpg

Junichi Arai, designer

Textile, 1984
Z0010546.jpg

Peruvian

Shawl, 1800s
Z0019970.jpg

French, Lyons Lyon

Cloth of Gold, ca. 1750-1769
Z0000075.jpg

English, England

Casket, 1650-1675
Z0010550.jpg

Guatemalan

Reboso, 1900s
Z0005555.jpg

Sumatran, Sumatra

Hip wrapper (kain songket), 1800s
RISDM 40-007 full.jpg

Peruvian Wari culture

Wari Tunic, ca. 600-850
Z0044890.jpg

Unknown artist

textile
Z0015731.jpg

American

valance, ca. 1890
Z0023192.jpg

Coptic Egyptian, Egypt

hanging; cover, 300s - 400s
Z0020823.jpg

Asante Ghanaian, Ghana Bonwire

Wrapper, early 1900s
Z0044406.jpg

Spanish

Apparel fragment, 1600-1650
Z0020458.jpg

American, Boston

Canvas-work picture, mid 1700s
Z0045721.jpg

Sumatran Malaysian, Sumatera Selatan, Palembang

Man's head cloth or turban cover (ikat kepala), 1800s
No Image Available

Laura Whipple

Kirkstall Abbey, 1820s
Z0026014.jpg

Japanese, Japan

Furisode, 1750-1850
Z0048664.jpg

Italian

Textile fragment, ca. 1600
Z0040719.jpg

English

Jumps, late 1600s-early 1700s
RISDM 22-081.jpg

African Kuba Kingdom Democratic Republic of Congo

Textile fragment, 1800s
RISDM 55-528.jpg

Indian

Man's Sash (Patka), late 1600s
Z0007835.jpg

Chinese

Overskirt, ca. 1840
Z0011725.jpg

Chinese

Ch'ao-Fu, 1821-1850
Z0033940.jpg

Italian

Buratto, 1600s
Z0006348.jpg

Indian

Shawl, ca. 1815-1820
Z0000518.jpg

French

Jacket, ca. 1760
Z0045731.jpg

Persian

Textile, 1550-1600
No Image Available

American

embroidered picture, late 1700s- early 1800s
33.023.jpg

Sardinian

Jewelry set, 1700s
Z0048918.jpg

Peruvian

Burial cloth, ca. 300 CE
Z0006283.jpg

Persian

hanging
Z0023133.jpg

Egyptian

textile, 500s CE
Z0012772.jpg

Spanish

dalmatic, 1550-1600
Z0053873.jpg

Chinese, China

Daoist priest's robe, 1800s
RISDM 59-031-3 v_01.jpg

Paul Poiret, designer

Dress with Attached Wrap, ca. 1925
Z0006022.jpg

Philippine

Textile, ca. 1900
Z0005575.jpg

Hawaiian

textile, 1800s
No Image Available

Indian

hanging, 1800s-1850s
Z0006267.jpg

Indian

Two Priests at the Shrine of Shri Nath-ji, early 1800s
Z0002672.jpg

Italian

Lace fragment, early 1600s
Z0024894.jpg

Dorothy Liebes, designer

Textile sample, casement, 1947-1950
Z0031124.jpg

Indonesian Minangkabau, West Sumatra

Woman’s ceremonial cloth (kain songket balapak), 1800s
Z0005869.jpg

Indian

textile, ca. 1825
Z0016026.jpg

Stern Bros., retailer

Middy blouse, ca. 1900
No Image Available

African, Ghana

Shawl, ca. 1910
Z0025219.jpg

French

The Woodchoppers, ca. 1500-1510
No Image Available

Japanese

Textile, 1800s
35.520.jpg

Japanese

shudara himo, 1786-1838
Z0025911.jpg

Italian

lace, 1700-1750
Z0018581.jpg

Hopi Native North American

Women’s wearing blanket (manta), ca. 1870
Z0020467.jpg

Santee Sioux Native North American, Great Plains

Woman's Dress, late 1800s - early 1900s
Z0006167.jpg

Malian (ancient style), Mali

horse blanket, 1900s
Z0005557.jpg

Sumatran Toba Batak, Sumatera Utara

Waist cloth, ca. 1825
Z0006259.jpg

Indonesian, Roti

Selimut (man's shoulder cloth), early 1900s
Z0020826.jpg

Indian, Golconda area Deccan region

Floor cover (known as "Reynolds coverlet"), ca. 1640-1650
Z0026880.jpg

Paracas Pre-Columbian, Peru Paracas Peninsula

Mantle, 299-200 BCE
RISDM 81-294 v_01.jpg

Peruvian

Textile fragment, 1100-1400
Z0048887.jpg

Philippine

Sinamay (abaca), 1800s
Z0044862.jpg

Egyptian

textile, 1100s
Z0008047.jpg

American

Dress, ca. 1820
Z0000073.jpg

Italian, Venice

dalmatic, early 1700s
Z0010555.jpg

Bolivian

carrying cloth; lliklla, mid 1900s
RISDM 37-032 v_01.jpg

American

Sampler, ca. 1831
RISDM 25-020 v_01.jpg

French

Lace border, ca. 1725
Z0019218.jpg

Peruvian

pouch, 1300s
Z0019821.jpg

Peruvian Pre-Columbian

Headdress
RISDM 43-259 v_01.jpg

Flemish, Tournai

Large Leaf Verdure Tapestry with Animals and Birds, ca. 1520
Z0020817.jpg

Moroccan, Morocco

Blanket or rug, ca. 1910
Z0024562.jpg

Italian Venetian

Collar, late 1600s
No Image Available

Japanese Edo

Helmet (torikabuto), late 1600s - early 1700s
Z0022793.jpg

Florentine Italian, Florence

Textile, 1400s
Z0031128.jpg

Egyptian

Tapestry, 5th century CE
No Image Available

Turkish, Turkey

cushion cover, mid 1500s-mid 1600s
Z0036387.jpg

Cambodian, Cambodia

Skirtcloth or hanging, late 1800s-early 1900s
Z0020465.jpg

Near Eastern Persian, persia

textile fragments; textile fragment; burial cloth, 1100s
Z0005383.jpg

African

Textile Fragment, 1800s
Z0018878.jpg

German

Textile fragment, ca. 1300
RISDM 43-120 v_01.jpg

Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) Native North American

Shot Pouch, 1880-1900
Z0005756.jpg

Bamana Malian (ancient style), Mali

Kosso Walani, 1900s
RISDM 59-129 front.jpg

French

Palampore, ca. 1775
Z0018306.jpg

Florentine Italian, Florence

textile, ca. 1590
Z0006306.jpg

Indian, India

Sari, 1800s
Z0000528.jpg

Bigelow Carpet Co., manufacturer

Wilton Carpet, ca. 1909
Z0044864.jpg

Egyptian

Tiraz textile fragment, second half 1100s
Z0021550.jpg

New Zealander, New Zealand

Man's cloak, 1880-1890
Z0031127.jpg

Inca culture Peruvian, Peru

Tapestry panel, 1500-1600 CE
Z0005404.jpg

Persian

textile, early 1700s
Z0007056.jpg

Alexandre Buquet, designer

Mouchoir d'Instruction Militaire No. 2, 1875
Z0006172.jpg

African Ghanaian

Kente cloth, ca. 1910
Z0000520.jpg

French

Breeches, ca. 1760
Z0026461.jpg

Tjoateengen, signed maker

Long cloth (kain panjang), early 1900s
Z0038109.jpg

Italian, Venice

Textile length, ca. 1425-1475
Z0019496.jpg

Egyptian

band (binding component), 600s
Z0006311.jpg

Indian

sari, early 1800s
Z0018584.jpg

Diné (Navajo) Native North American

Women’s wearing blanket (manta), ca. 1880
Z0005453.jpg

Persian, persia

Textile fragment with riders in a landscape, 1530-1560
Z0014022.jpg

French

textile, 1795-1799
Z0005560.jpg

Indonesian

textile, late 1800s
RISDM 19-238 silho_v_01.jpg

Spanish, Spain Granada

Textile fragment with Nasrid Coat of Arms, ca. 1400
Z0031927.jpg

Indonesian Sumbanese, East Sumba

Mantle (hinggi), 1900-38
Z0001263.jpg

Indian Gujarati, India Gujarat Saurashtra Kutch

Sari/Odhani, late 1800s-early 1900s
Z0037945.jpg

Peruvian

textile, 500 CE
Z0005554.jpg

Sumatran, Sumatra

textile, early 1900s
Z0028037.jpg

Indian Parsi? Parsee?, China

blouse, 1800s
Z0005231.jpg

Egyptian

textile, 300s - 400s
Z0013529.jpg

Diné (Navajo) Native North American

Man's wearing blanket ("Moqui" style), ca. 1860-1870
Z0000588.jpg

Bushong Kuba Kingdom

skirt, early 1900s
Z0014948.jpg

Attributed to Mandaya Philippine, Mindanao

Woman's jacket, 1800s
Z0019334.jpg

French, Nantes

Bed hanging, 1700s
Z0010492.jpg

Unknown artist

Blanket
Z0031125.jpg

Italian Venetian, Italy

Velvet fragment, ca. 1500
Z0000089.jpg

French

Overdress, 1760-1770
Z0010540.jpg

Mexican Saltillo

Serape
RISDM 16-328.jpg

Egyptian Arabic-Egyptian

Textile fragment, 1200s
35.309A.jpg

Japanese

Kesa, 1750-1850
Z0018588.jpg

Diné (Navajo) Native North American

Blanket or rug, ca. 1890
Z0007810.jpg

Attributed to Heinrich Olbrich

Napkin, ca. 1750
Z0005602.jpg

Cambodian Thai Khmer, Cambodia Thailand Siam

Pidan (pictorial hanging), early 1900s
Z0031031.jpg

Egyptian

Child's tunic, ca. 330 BCE
RISDM 22-080.jpg

African Democratic Republic of Congo Kuba Kingdom

Textile fragment, 1800s
Z0006655.jpg

French

fabric length; textile length, ca. 1715

More objects +

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