Sample of faux seal fur; 1884;England or Germany
date: label: date made
content: 1884
notes: label: Description
content: Sample of mohair plush faux seal fur in very dark brown; 1884; Origin not noted in the original file, probably either England or Germany. Woven fabric with a cotton plain weave backing and a long straight pile, pressed flat, of mohair. Very thick and shiny. Double woven, two pieces face to face sharing the pile warp, and then slit apart as they come from the loom. Dyed in imitation of seal fur. Accompanying documentation in the accession folder reads: "Made on looms specially designed for the purpose and are made two pieces at a time; there are three warps used in the making, two of cotton and one of silk or mohair according to the goods. Cotton makes the body of the cloth firmer and more suited to the purpose than so that the inferior material is not used on the score of economy alone." "Specimens of manufactures, all designed in imitation of the wool, or fur, or hair of those animals whose natural skins have been used from the earliest times as a means of clothing; for which their great warmth has made them especially adapted. / Thus the sheep, goat, camel, buffalo, bear, fox, seal, beaver, otter, and manyothers have been laid under contribution to supply those wants which the rigors of climate rendered necessary. / The great beauty as well as comfort of many of these furs and skins have always been sought after, but their cost and the difficulty of obtaining them have precluded the possibility of their possession, by any but the wealthier classes. / Human ingenuity has therefore been taxed to rpovide something which should as near as possible resemble both in appearance and comfort these much valued articles. / This has been accomplished, and the various imitations of furs, skins, etc. now not only nearly equal the original in point of appearance, but actually surpass them in point of durability, while the comparatively low price at which they can be produced places them within the reach of everyone." From a group of 16 European-made faux furs donated by importer H. Herrman Sternbach & Co., NYC, in 1884.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Europe
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Textiles
label: See more items in
content: Textiles
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of H. Herrman, of H. Herrman, Sternbach & Co...
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TE.15466.08
label: accession number
content: 15466
label: catalog number
content: 15466.08
objectType: label: Object Name
content: faux fur sample
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: cotton; mohair (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: pile weave (overall production method/technique)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 5 in x 5 in; 12.7 cm x 12.7 cm