Valance
date: label: date made
content: 1876
label: used date
content: 1876
notes: label: Description
content: Valance, blue tiered valance (part of set 60.400a-60.402d). The valance is shorter and wider than the other two in the set. It is made from a blue floral damask fabric. It has a central opening with a convex curve of fabric decorated with a warp-face tape with tied self-tassels. The tassels themselves alternate between thread tassels and three-tiered pompom tassels. The valance is pleated with inverted box pleats at each end of the arch and in the center. Over the center pleat, there is a swag of gathered fabric applied at the top edge. There is a decorative knotted gimp that forms spiral designs on either side of the swag. Two points of fabric hold large ornate tassels after each end of the arch. Shortly after the tassels is the bottom edge of the valance. The sides of the valance hang as straight sections of fabric to either side of the central opening. The sides are significantly shorter than those of the two other valances in the set. The bottom edge is decorated with the same tassels and knotted gimp as the arch. The reverse of the valance is a matching blue brocade 2/3rds of the way up from the bottom. The top 1/3 is an undyed twill. There are 14 ½” rings across the top of the valance. There are spaces where some rings appear to be missing. There is water damage across the bottom, 12.5 inches up on the right side and 15 inches on the left. The water has stained the silk.
label: Description
content: This valance (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: purchased
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
label: used
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Kennerdell
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.60.0401a
label: accession number
content: 228471
label: catalog number
content: 60.0401a
objectType: label: Object Name
content: valance
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: blue, cerulean, ice blue (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: brocade, silk, tassels, cord, thread, gimp, wood (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 32 1/4 in x 67 in x 2 1/4 in; 81.915 cm x 170.18 cm x 5.715 cm