Jacquard carpet or coverlet; 1875-1914; possibly New York or Europe
date: label: date made
content: Very late 19th or early 20th century
label: date made
content: 1875-1914
notes: label: Description
content: Carpet, (or possibly a coverlet); red, brown, and natural; Jacquard woven with single and double woven sections; 1875-1914. Warp A is S-twist 2 ply, natural wool. Warp B is S-twist 2 ply, red wool(?); Selvage S-twist 4 ply white cotton. The cotton yarns are present for only 1/4 inch. Weft A Z-twist single of natural brown wool. the yarn is composed of black, dark and medium brown, and tan fibers, likely natural shades of wool rather than dyed fibers. Weft C is S-twist, 2 ply white cotton(?). Microscopic and chemical analysis will be required to determine the exact fibers used in the yarns, but it appears visually and texturally to be a blend of mohair and naturally colored wools with the exception of the red-dyed yarn. Thread count - 14 x 13 on each single layer, 28 x 26 for the 2 layers combined
label: Description
content: The central field is 33" x 64" with a vermicelli design. it is bordered on all sides by sylized artichoke found in "Pomegranate" Pattern brocades of the Italian Renaissance, stylized art nouveau looking flower or palmette motif, framed with ogee curves, and ribboned garland motifs. The border designs are reminisicent of hybridized revival styles of the 19th century and may have been trying to evoke Asiatic motifs popular in the Aesthetics Movement. The border is 16" wide on all sides. The repeat unit in the border is 16" x16'. The style of the pattern with the open cetnral field makes it more likely to have been a carpet than a coverlet.
label: Description
content: There is a note in the accession file that this piece was laundered in a washing machine possibly removing any sizing on the yarns and changing the overall texture. If this piece were predominantly sheep's wool, it would have felted in the washing machine from the soap, hot water, agitation combination. More work is defintely needed to determine exactly from what materials this object is constructed. This coverlet was purchased at an auction by the vendor in Hartwick, NY in 1980. It was washed in a washing machine prior to its purchase, which would have affected its original feel. That treatment may have radically altered the texture, i.e. removed the sizings and initated felting.
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Textiles
label: See more items in
content: Coverlets
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content: Textiles
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Rita J. Adrosko
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1982.0146.01
label: accession number
content: 1982.0146
label: catalog number
content: 1982.0146.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: carpet or coverlet
label: Object Type
content: double weave
label: Object Type
content: jacquard coverlets
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: jacquard (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: woven (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: brown, natural (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: Victorian design reform (overall pattern)
label: Physical Description
content: wool, possibly mohair (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 67 in x 96 1/2 in; 170.18 cm x 245.11 cm