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Crewelwork embroidery
Part of a set of bed hangings
Wide bed curtain (Lowell family set)
Crewelwork embroidery
Part of a set of bed hangings
American, probably Boston
around 1725
Object Place: probably Boston, Massachusetts, United States, New England
Medium/Technique
Linen and cotton twill (fustian) embroidered with wool; linen and silk plain weave tape
Dimensions
Overall: 203.2 x 172.7 cm (80 x 68 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Harriet Ropes Cabot
Accession Number1979.778a
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAmericas, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsTextiles
DescriptionEmbroidered bed curtain (a) with two sections from the valance or another part of the bed hanging set sewn to right edge (b & c) with a tape trim, smaller sections (b & c) sewn to larger section (probably originally a foot curtain) at a later date (3/8-1/2" seam allowances), larger section (a) consists of three pieces of ground cloth sewn together at selvedges with abutting seams (; linen and cotton twill (fustian) embroidered with polychrome worsted wool threads (crewels); generally, chain stitch was used for thin stems and the outlines of flowers and curling leaves, Roumanian couching/New England laid stitch was used for the thick brown branches and blue and green mounds, buttonhole stitch was used to make spiked outlines, herringbone stitch was used for leaf veins and smaller leaves, link stitch and double cross stitch was used as filling for the leaves and many flowers, satin stitch was used for some solid areas, such as the strawberries, smaller buds and leaves; the pieces that were added later (b & c) have more satin stitch, especially in mounds and solid areas of the leaves, flowers, and pineapples
ProvenanceLent by Mrs. Harriet Ropes Cabot October 10, 1946