Textiles - Overview
The 50,000 objects in the textile collections fall into two main categories: raw fibers, yarns, and fabrics, and machines, tools, and other textile technology. Shawls, coverlets, samplers, laces, linens, synthetics, and other fabrics are part of the first group, along with the 400 quilts in the National Quilt Collection. Some of the Museum's most popular artifacts, such as the Star-Spangled Banner and the gowns of the first ladies, have an obvious textile connection.
The machinery and tools include spinning wheels, sewing machines, thimbles, needlework tools, looms, and an invention that changed the course of American agriculture and society. A model of Eli Whitney's cotton gin, made by the inventor in the early 1800s, shows the workings of a machine that helped make cotton plantations profitable in the South and encouraged the spread of slavery.
"Textiles - Overview" showing 1 items.
Mary Shields's Sampler
- Description
- Two block alphabets of 26 letters. Two rows of evenly spaced small motifs (hearts, birds, crowns, eight-pointed stars). Two small dogs in lower corners. Five whole and four partial geometric crossbands. No border. Wool and silk embroidery thread on linen ground. STITCHES: cross. THREAD COUNT: warp 30, weft 32/in.
- Inscriptions:
- "On God for all events depend you cannot
want when Gods your friend
- The Ant against Cold winter wisely hoard
Provision which The Summer's wealth afford
Reading a Silent Lesson to mankind that they
Ending moove not behind
- Better'n the Kindnesses that you Receive
As far as your ability which leave nothing is
More unmannerly than muth as that vile
temper of ingratitude
(This last verse has been badly repaired, and should read: Return the kindnesses that you receive
As far as your ability gives leave Nothing is
more unmannerly nor rude Than that vile
temper of ingratitude)
- Mary Shields May the 30 1827"
- Background:
- Nothing is known about the life of Mary Shields.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1827
- maker
- Shields, Mary
- ID Number
- TE*T11676
- catalog number
- T11676
- accession number
- 219034
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center