Pincushion of garment fabric fragments

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Status

Not on view

Date1745-1755

Geography Possibly made - France

Medium/TechniqueSilk

DimensionsOverall (H x W x D): 1 3/8 in. × 1 3/8 in. × 1/16 in. (3.49 cm × 3.49 cm × 0.16 cm)

Credit LineGift of Elizabeth and Margaret Norton, 1927

Object numberW-970

DescriptionThis pincushion features a silk fragment with an asymmetrical design with semi-naturalistic daisy sprouts (in sprigs of three), a small amount of diaper patterning, and curvilinear line segments with scallops on the top and zig-zags on the bottom placed diagonally throughout the design. Each curvilinear line ends at a daisy bloom. The design is asymmetrical, and the vertical repeat is very small (2 1/4 inches), which is characteristic of the mid-century retreat from naturalism.

The three colors of woven threads in the fragment are maroon, purple, and yellow. The ground color is achieved by a plain weave of maroon warp and purple weft, and the visible weft switches to yellow for the daisies' petals and some of the line segment design. The rest of the details are brocaded in through the use of floats: interestingly, the piece uses both weft floats and warp floats.

The pincushion is backed with bright pink silk in a simple weave. The two pieces are sewn together with white silk floss. A stabilizer is sewn in between the two fabrics--perhaps cardboard.

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