Object ID
2024.23.1
Object Name
Tapestry
Date Created
1900 – 1954
Donor
Georgia Stathopoulos
Measurements
37 1/2 in H x 7 ft W
Material
Wool
Object Entities
Stathopoulos (Koliopoulos), Georgia (contributor)
Koliopoulos (Kekos), Alexandra (is related to)
Koliopoulos, Demetrios (is related to)
Koliopoulos (Kekos), Alexandra (is related to)
Koliopoulos, Demetrios (is related to)
Access Points
Names
Object Description
A multicolored wool tapestry with two human characters facing each other and multiple animals surrounding them.
Origin
Georgia Stathopoulos (Koliopoulos) immigrated from Xrisovitsi, Tripoli, Greece to the United States in 1954 with her sister and mother, Alexandra Koliopoulos (Kekos) and the tapestry. Alexandra married Demetrios Koliopoulos in 1943 and he immigrated to the United States in 1951, before returning to Greece to bring his family back with him.
The tapestry tells the story of Golfo, from the 1893 Greek play of the same name, which was also made into a silent film in Greece in 1915, directed by Konstandinos Bahatoris.
The story begins with a childhood romance between Golfo and a young sheep herder named Tasos. They exchange eternal vows from a young age and their love is very powerful. Formidable forces work against their eternal love. A wealthy aristocrat named Kitsos desires Golfo but she refuses his wedding proposals and stays faithful to her everlasting love. Tasos and Golfo become engaged and are about to get married. Kitsos and his family work hard to break up Golfo and Tasos. Kitsos convinces his cousin Stavroula to sever the bond between Tasos and Golfo. Initially, Tasos refuses Stavroula's proposals but she seduces him and also offers him a massive dowery. Meanwhile, he is also convinced that Golfo wants to marry Kitsos. Enraged he calls of the engagement with Golfo. He banishes her and she becomes delirious but attends the wedding and gives Tasos her blessing. Tasos overwhelmed with grief and his everlasting love for Golfo calls off the wedding and seeks out his true love. Regrettably, he finds her dead, she poisoned herself. Tasos seeing her laying dead takes his own life.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golfo
The tapestry tells the story of Golfo, from the 1893 Greek play of the same name, which was also made into a silent film in Greece in 1915, directed by Konstandinos Bahatoris.
The story begins with a childhood romance between Golfo and a young sheep herder named Tasos. They exchange eternal vows from a young age and their love is very powerful. Formidable forces work against their eternal love. A wealthy aristocrat named Kitsos desires Golfo but she refuses his wedding proposals and stays faithful to her everlasting love. Tasos and Golfo become engaged and are about to get married. Kitsos and his family work hard to break up Golfo and Tasos. Kitsos convinces his cousin Stavroula to sever the bond between Tasos and Golfo. Initially, Tasos refuses Stavroula's proposals but she seduces him and also offers him a massive dowery. Meanwhile, he is also convinced that Golfo wants to marry Kitsos. Enraged he calls of the engagement with Golfo. He banishes her and she becomes delirious but attends the wedding and gives Tasos her blessing. Tasos overwhelmed with grief and his everlasting love for Golfo calls off the wedding and seeks out his true love. Regrettably, he finds her dead, she poisoned herself. Tasos seeing her laying dead takes his own life.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golfo
Rights and Reproduction
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Any other use, such as exhibition, publication, or commercial use, is not allowed except by written permission in accordance with the NHM Image Rights and Reproduction Policy.
For questions on image rights and reproduction, please contact [email protected]
Any other use, such as exhibition, publication, or commercial use, is not allowed except by written permission in accordance with the NHM Image Rights and Reproduction Policy.
For questions on image rights and reproduction, please contact [email protected]
Citation
Tapestry, 1900 – 1954, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/14017. Accessed 01/11/26.