Handwoven Upholstery Fabric c. 20th century

Editor: Here we have a piece entitled "Handwoven Upholstery Fabric," dating from around the 20th century. It's made from wool. The texture really jumps out; it looks so tactile. I’m curious, what symbolic language or hidden stories might you find woven into this textile? Curator: Well, think about what textiles traditionally represent: home, warmth, security. But this is “upholstery” fabric – it’s meant to cover something else, to lend it those qualities. It's not a blanket or garment meant to be worn directly on the body. Is it perhaps referring to a sense of artificiality? The color combination of green and yellow feels quite modern too. Does that suggest a break from some of the more sentimental connotations we typically associate with traditional weavings? Editor: That’s an interesting angle. I was so focused on the homespun feel of the material itself, but you’re right, it is designed to cover something else, not provide comfort directly. Curator: Exactly! And consider how the geometric structure intersects with the raw material. The repetition of the woven pattern might indicate control, structure. Is there tension between nature (the wool, the colors) and the built environment? Editor: It almost makes you think of how nature can be commodified. We try to bring the outside world into our homes. Curator: Precisely. So we aren't just dealing with something functional; it is an image that sparks reflection. Editor: That makes me rethink my initial read of it as simply "rustic." Now it seems much more complex. Curator: Right? What appears familiar can often hold layers of coded meaning about who we are. It seems simple, yet it’s loaded with possibilities!