Evening star., 1939-01-01
Smithsonian Display
Of Textile Art Gift
OF Miss Hegeman
Lace, Embroidery
Collection Started
By Her Mother
By JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
Announcement of the gift of the
Henry Kirke Porter property to the
Library of Congress and the Smith
sonian Institution has brought to
light the fact that the donor, Miss
Annie-May Hegeman, has been re-
sponsible for the development of
one of the most notable collections
of laces, embroideries and tapes
tries now on display anywhere.
DR.. Alexander Wetmore, assistant
secretary of the Smithsonian, yes
terday told how for 80 years, begin
ming in 1908, Mrs. Porter, until her
death in 1926. and Miss Hegeman,
since that time, had presented to
the institution examples of textile
art both beautiful and precious.
Started by Mrs. Porter.
'"The collection of art textiles in
the National Museum" he said,
was begun through the instru-
mentality of Mrs. Porter, who ia
terested group of ladies in form
ing an exhibit of selected pieces.
Preparation for the reception of
the collection was made in the
northeast range of the Arts and
Industries Building and the placing
of specimens began in May, 1908.
The dominating idea of the exhibit
Is to give to the American public
the opportunity to see every variety
of lace and art textile work and
learn their characteristics.
This service is especially valu-
able as multitudes of ladies pos
sessing heirlooms of lace would be
glad to be able to identify them.
Besides this an important service of
the collection is to facilitate the ac-
quaintance with the best examples
of the various laces with a view to
showing the chief works of woman's
contribution to this branch of art.
1t is especially true that laceWork
is an expression of art feeling quite
as much as demonstration of skill
in workmanship and the most strik-
ing pieces are not only registers of
achievements, but serve as an in
spirational influence in art educa-
ton
DR.. Wetmore explained that the
collection now occupies the north
portion of the northwest range of
the second floor of the Natural His
tory Building.
wherever one turns in this hail."
he declared, "one is confronted with
wealth of rare and beautiful speci-
mems of lace and other art textiles
fortunately preserved from past
centuries and still appealing through
their beauty and refining influences
to many of the present genera
ton. These relics have an import
ant place in the history of art and
also allow us to glimpse the culture
of the age which desired and ap-
preciated the work of artists in
every branch of endeavor and thus
fostered line of great designers
and art craftsmen"
At first Mrs. Portner's collection
was shown as loan; later, Miss
Hegeman made it a gift.
Church Banner in Velvet.
The most beautiful items in the
exhibition include church banner
of red velvet embroidered in gold
and silver with a medallion of the
Virgin and Child painted in oils,
a square white and gold brocade
bound with Silver and gold braid,
two pieces of red Genoa velvet en-
broidered in colored silks, two pieces
of green and gold satin brocade,
forming a, cape; g large red and
gold altar cloth, a red velvet cross
embroidered in gold and silver, two
strips of Spanish applique on dull
green velvet, large old green
Spanish brocade curtain, a piece
of green silk tissue interviewer with
fine gold thread, two pieces of Ital-
ian embroidery (lowers and birds)
on yellow satin, 18th century ST.
Gillian linen cover, embroidered in
red, edged with red silk bobbin
lace; Sicilian 17th century linen
bed curtain with band of drawn
work, an Italian 16th-17th CEN
tury altar frontal of linen with bor-
der of drawnwork in bistre edged
with bobbin lace, Sicilian 17th
century altar frontal of linen with
border of network and edged with
bobbin lace in blue and white;
large italian 17th century cover
of linen cutwork, border of reticello
edged with linen band finished with
pointed bobbin lace; 18th century
Flemish bobbin lace, point DAN
gleterre, f1ounce; early 10th century
Brussels lace veil, bobbin sprays
on handmade ground.
Empress Louise Monogram.
Also: Two pieces Of applique lace,
needlepoint on handmade bobbin
ground, empire design with Napo-
leonic bee and monograms of the
Empress Marie Louise; needlepoint
lace cap crown, point de Venise,
early 18th century; priests robe of
red silk covered with silver Vene-
tian point, 10Th century; two pieces
of cloth of gold with design in sill
yer; one large piece of yellow bro
cade; piece of yellow silk brocaded
with silver ard fruit in colors; a
Sicilian green silk scarf with design
in silver and gold; three pieces Of
Spanish applique on red velvet;
three embroidered strips with back
ground OF gold thread; two strips of
red velvet with applique and gold
thread embroidery, three medallions
of embroidery in each strip; one
French pink embroidery handbag
and three Bavarian Ged, blue and
green) handbags; one French bro
cade handbag of blue and silver;
two bags used to collect aims in
church, hat form; one large piece
of old Spanish green brocade; two
pieces of old yellow silk embroidered
with butterflies; one Genoese red
and gold brocade cape; bag of 18th
century brocade, triangular in shape,
metal mounting backed with silver
cloth; many bonnets, lappets, COL
lars, barbe ends, ETC., of Italian,
French, Spanish and English lace;
fragments of old italian and French
velvet, etc,