curtain
date: label: date made
content: 1876
label: used date
content: 1876
notes: label: Description
content: Curtain, lace. Net curtains with bobbinet lace. The curtain is worked overall with small flowers, leaves, and dots. The leaves and flowers work themselves into chateau-style crests. The bottom and left side of the curtain are filled with larger crests and leaves. The net of the interior of the leaves and the structure of the crests is removed and the center is held together with ladder work. The upper right side has no crests, instead it has a loose floral pattern. The edges of the curtains are scalloped with small flowers along the edge. The left side has circular flowers and below is a pattern of decorated arches and circles along the left side. The right side has flowers and leaves worked in arches along the scallops. The curtain has substantial staining. The original white of the curtain has been stained an ecru color in some places, to a grey in others. The surface of the curtain is stained with black spots. The top of the curtain no longer has a channel for hanging, but the top edge can be recognized because it does not have a scalloped edge.
label: Description
content: This curtain (part of set 60.400a-60.402d) was donated by Charles Holten as part of a gift containing a bedroom and suite from the home of Richard Kennerdell, an American manufacturer from Pennsylvania. Kennerdell opened a wool, iron, saw, and grist mill in Venango County in western Pennsylvania during the 1850s (page 54 of scanned accession file). The mill grew, and Richard Kennerdell built the town of Kennerdell, Pennsylvania around his mill. The objects in the set came from his grand mansion in his town. Sadly, the house has since been destroyed. The damask fabric of the blue draperies corresponds to blue damask panels in the bedframe and the towel rack from the grand bedroom. According to the family, the objects in the set were bought at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876 (page 56 of scanned accession file). The furnishings are most likely manufactured by Allen and Brother of Philadelphia, notable furniture makers in this time. The wooden furniture contains the markings of the company, and the set matches examples from their published book of object displayed at the Exhibition. The draperies and bedroom set are examples of Victorian furniture in the French style inspired by Louse XIV. The rich damask valances evoke luxury and splendor.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
label: used
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Kennerdell
label: sold
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
topic: label: associated subject
content: Exhibitions
label: associated subject
content: Manufacturing
label: related event
content: Centennial Exposition
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
label: See more items in
content: Domestic Furnishings
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Charles W. Holton
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: DL.60.0400b
label: catalog number
content: 60.0400b
label: accession number
content: 228471
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Curtains, Pair of
label: Object Name
content: curtain
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: net, lace applique (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 106 1/2 in x 41 1/4 in x 1/8 in; 270.51 cm x 104.775 cm x .3175 cm