German-born textile designer and weaver Maria Kipp (1900–1988) is noteworthy as the first woman in the United States to develop a commercially successful enterprise that specialized in hand-woven furnishing textiles of modern design. Throughout her long career, Kipp worked for a diverse clientele of both commercial and private architects and interior designers, the high-end Los Angeles department store Bullocks, the Beverly Hills Hotel, and many Hollywood film celebrities. By keeping her output limited, Kipp was able to maintain strict control over her designs, their production and quality. The impressive and sustained success of her business depended entirely on word-of-mouth referrals, as she did not advertise. However, interviews with Kipp that appeared in trade journals brought attention to her unique textiles. This striking wall hanging exemplifies her sophisticated handling of color and texture. Kipp interlaces natural and synthetic yarns—lush cotton chenille, glossy rayon and reflective silver and gold lurex strips—of various weights in harmonious shades of blue, green, aqua, and cream, all achieved through in-house dyeing. In its design, reminiscent of plaid patterning, Kipp explores the juxtaposition of color, matte and shiny surfaces, and other textural effects. Overall, the panel conveys a rich visual and tactile complexity, belied by its plain weave structure. 

Maria Kipp textiles are in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the San Bernardino County Museum, California; and the Dallas Museum of Art, Texas.