Black-and-White Striped Shawl from the Estate of Emilie Flöge, c. 1912

This Black-and-White Striped Shawl from the estate of Emilie Flöge (1874–1952) made from shiny silk and created around 1912 resumes the abandoning of floral patterns that can also be seen on photographs of the bat dress (reform dress) taken at the Villa Oleander in Kammer on the Attersee around 1908. The clearly defined striped pattern in bright and dark colors can be found on many products of the Wiener Werkstätte, including tapestries, carpets, upholstery fabrics, tablecloths, pillows, curtains, vases and dinner services. Around 1910, the Wiener Werkstätte began to reduce Jugendstil patterns, as geometric patterns were increasingly being interpreted as the epitomes of strictness, purity and simplicity. At the same time, printed fabrics became popular – the Wiener Werkstätte now had its fabrics machine-printed by the company Joh. Backhausen & Söhne, founded in 1849, which became the main producer of the Wiener Werkstätte’s textile items.

AT, 2023