Can anybody find similar examples of this fabric fragment?

[Megaggles]

I'm in the process of trying to date this fabric fragment for a graduate research project. I'm pretty sure it's from the early 1930s, but I can't find similar examples to help me prove my theory through general online searches or by looking through museum costume and textile collections. It's an apparel fabric made of silk probably used for a scarf or dress. It could be from the Bauhaus movement or Art Deco, maybe a bit of both. The color in my images changed when I uploaded them to this thread for some reason. The reddish brown at the bottom length of the fabric is actually a red-orange, the mustard color is really goldenrod yellow, and the pea green is more of a muted lime green. If anybody can help me find images of similar fabric samples or fabric made into a dress or other garment, it would be much appreciated. The closest designer I've been able to attribute some similarities to is Josef Hoffmann.

 

[Jonathan]

The cubist design certainly fits in with a Deco aesthetic, but I think if you use the colours as a way to help determining age you might get the best support. The lime/pea green, goldenrod/mustard, and sienna brown are all popular 30s colours - you can probably find evidence for this from period catalogues that list colourways for available dresses. I know I have handled several dresses in those muddy earth colours from the 30s, as well as scarves that use the same combination of those colours from c. 1933-1938ish

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

That is an interesting fragment. Is it a silk screened or hand printed fabric? Or are the dyed/colored threads woven in? I have a BauHaus Secessionist Movement scarf with a lime green (and vivid pink) linear pattern and I know that color combination was popular for a brief time as it signified something (forget what right now...perhaps it was a French female artist's group thing?). But I digress. It is a favorite design era of mine, I do collect from that period, and know that without much evidence the textiles can often be hard to date. I agree with Jonathan that the colors are good clue. Do I see picot edges along 3 of the sides? This appears to be more part of a dress panel or scarf than what I personally would call a fragment, as it has 3 of its original sides and is a reasonably good size. Is there a cut end, perhaps at the opposite end of the color lines? What is the actual size of the piece?

I am not seeing the same design influences as you, but that is subjective and you have it there in hand.

I applaud your efforts to discover the origins. It may take some time!

 

[Megaggles]

I think it's either a screened or roller printed fabric. The dyed threads aren't woven in. You're right, the color combination has really been my only guide in trying to date this. All four edges of the fabric have been cut with pinking shears; there is no picot detailing. It is a good size, more like a piece than a fragment. I don't have the exact measurements, but it's about 42" x 20". I also should have worded my opinion about Josef Hoffmann better. I mean that he's the only recognized designer I've been able to come across that has helped lead me in my research for this piece. Two sample below are by him. Do you think the Weiner Werkstatte would be too early for this my fabric piece?

 

[Megaggles]

Actually, now that I'm looking more at Bauhaus fabric samples, I do think the Weiner Werkstatte would be too early.