American Woolen Co. Boucle cloaking fabric sample, 1912. 22 ounce weight, in Navy. A cut and curled long pile weave in a diagonal twill. For women's winter cloaks. Produced by American Woolen Co's National & Providence Worsted Mills.
The Providence and National Worsted Mills, founded in Rhode Island in the 1870s, were originally two companies owned by Charles Fletcher, one a spinning and one a weaving mill for working with worsted yarns. Fletcher amalgamated the two companies into one in 1893, and then sold this company to the large Lawrence-based American Woolen Company in 1899. When the Lawrence mill workers struck against pay cuts in 1912 (the Bread and Roses strike), the American Woolen Company was one of the firms affected. The Rhode Island mills, however, did not strike.
Last (third) step in the process of embroidering filet lace. The carbonized foundation fabric has been entirely removed by brushing and the embroidery stitched onto the filet net. Finished piece like Cat. No.6065. Sample is finished article with the carbonized scrim removed after brushing operations.
Part of a group of Schiffli machine embroidered trimmings, primarily for apparel, manufactured by Alpha Embroidery Co. of New Jersey, many of which imitated hand embroidered national and regional styles, including from China and parts of Europe. The firm's designers used the Brooklyn Institute Museum to research original examples, which were copied or from which they drew inspiration. The products were sold in foreign markets in competition with the native hand work, as well as in the U.S.
Embroiderd Net Banding; Schiffli embroidered conventional pattern of Indian origin, executed with variegated wool and white artificial silk on flne black silk net by the burnt-out process. Made after originals in the collection of the Brooklyn Institute Museum.
Part of a group of Schiffli machine embroidered trimmings, primarily for apparel, manufactured by Alpha Embroidery Co. of New Jersey, many of which imitated hand embroidered national and regional styles, including from China and parts of Europe. The firm's designers used the Brooklyn Institute Museum to research original examples, which were copied or from which they drew inspiration. The products were sold in foreign markets in competition with the native hand work, as well as in the U.S.
A sample length of The Shelton Looms "Nuage" mohair plush fabric; with a pastel and black stylized leaf printed design, 1914. A Chiffon plush with mohair pile and a cotton back. Printed on the reverse, so that it shows through and colors the white pile, with an allover stylized design of leaf shapes in pastel tones of pink, blue, and green, with outlines in black. Used for trimmings, evening gowns, wraps, etc. Width: 50"; 2 samples. One of a group of pile fabrics given in 1914 (accessioned in 1915) by Sidney Blumenthal and Co., Inc, owner and operator of The Shelton Looms, one of the best known and most important American pile fabric producers., whose mills were in Shelton, Connecticut. Original fabric woven 50" wide.
Photograph, black & white: Welfare Work - Type of Operative's House. American Woolen Co., The National & Providence Worsted Mills, Providence, RI. 1912.
One of a series of 71 photographs documenting the workings of the American Woolen Company's National & Providence Worsted Mills, part of a large donation of fibers, yarns, and fabrics by American Woolen Mills in 1912.
Embroidered Georgette Banding. Schiffli embroidered; conventionalized floral pattern executed with woven silk lace (shadow) applique and ecru guimpe on orchid georgette crepe.
Part of a group of Schiffli machine embroidered trimmings, primarily for apparel, manufactured by Alpha Embroidery Co. of New Jersey, many of which imitated hand embroidered national and regional styles, including from China and parts of Europe. The firm's designers used the Brooklyn Institute Museum to research original examples, which were copied or from which they drew inspiration. The products were sold in foreign markets in competition with the native hand work, as well as in the U.S.
Embroidered Net Flouncing, Schiffli embroidery reproduction of Chinese hand-embroidery. Floral pattern and scalloped edge executed with artificial silk on fine silk net by the chemical burn-out process. Black.
Part of a group of Schiffli machine embroidered trimmings, primarily for apparel, manufactured by Alpha Embroidery Co. of New Jersey, many of which imitated hand embroidered national and regional styles, including from China and parts of Europe. The firm's designers used the Brooklyn Institute Museum to research original examples, which were copied or from which they drew inspiration. The products were sold in foreign markets in competition with the native hand work, as well as in the U.S.
L.C. Chase & Co. "Velmo" mohair pile upholstery fabric, "Tiber", 1921-22. A solid cut pile upholstery velvet with a mohair face and cotton back. Short, dense pile. Printed pattern T-81: Allover design with wisteria branches, peacock, butterfly, flower, and fruit in wisteria, brown, blue, violet, green, and gold on a taupe ground. The design repeat is 31" and fills the width of the fabric. Manufacturer's trial 312. 28" wide. Sample length 35". Manufactured by Sanford Mills, Sanford, Maine; selling agent L.C. Chase & Co.
A length of Shelton Looms "Chadwick" pile upholstery fabric. Fabric has a short cut pile of mohair in tan, printed with a large floral in six colors on a raisin-colored ground. Pattern meanders over the surface; 26" repeat length, filling the width. Mfr # 4642E; 64641E; color 3401. 36 1/2" L x 51 1/2" W. . One of a group of pile fabrics given by Sidney Blumenthal & Co., Inc. in 1921. Blumenthal owned and operated the Shelton Looms, in Shelton, CT, noted American manufacturer of pile fabrics
Photograph, black & white: Weaving. American Woolen Co., The National & Providence Worsted Mills, Providence, RI. 1912.
One of a series of 71 photographs documenting the workings of the American Woolen Company's National & Providence Worsted Mills, part of a large donation of fibers, yarns, and fabrics by American Woolen Mills in 1912.
46 Skeins of American grown silk (yellow), reeled in Washington. Transferred from the sericulture display at the US Dept of Agriculture, Bureau of Entomology; July 9, 1912.
At various points in American history, from colonial times onward, people experimented with sericulture - meaning the raising of silkworms and reeling of silk filaments from silkworm cocoons. At first it was hoped that this silk could be shipped to Great Britain for use in its silk textile manufacturing industry. Experiments in the 1760s and after, into the early 20th century, hoped to raise enough silk to support an American silk textile industry. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, efforts in California and other (primarily) western states were supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with a display in the department's headquarters building in Washington, DC. The display also highlighted the imports of raw silk from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East that most manufacturers used in their products. The contents of the display were transferred to the (then) U.S. National Museum in 1912, for exhibition in the Textile Hall, as educational background for the exhibition of silk textiles manufactured in the US.
American Woolen Co. All-worsted Cheviot fabric samples, 1912. Very dark blue, piece dyed. Manufactured by the National and Providence Worsted Mills, Providence, RI.
The Providence and National Worsted Mills, founded in Rhode Island in the 1870s, were originally two companies owned by Charles Fletcher, one a spinning and one a weaving mill for working with worsted yarns. Fletcher amalgamated the two companies into one in 1893, and then sold this company to the large Lawrence-based American Woolen Company in 1899. When the Lawrence mill workers struck against pay cuts in 1912 (the Bread and Roses strike), the American Woolen Company was one of the firms affected. The RHode Island mills, however, did not strike.
An imported plain weave fabric with a fine cross-ribbed appearance: "Taffeta" silk dress fabric; Sold for $1.50 per yard at Lansburgh & Bro., 420-430 7th St., Washington, DC; Jan 29 115. Width: 36" Manufactured by Sands & Co. (country of origin not given, but noted as 'imported'; 1915.
Part of a purchase of silks, mostly American made, by the museum in 1915. Perhaps included as a sample of the competition American silk mills faced from abroad.
Photograph, black and white: Wool sorting - Grading Fleeces; American Woolen Co., The National & Providence Woolen Mills, Providence, RI. 1912.
One of a series of 71 photographs documenting the workings of the American Woolen Company's National & Providence Worsted Mills, part of a large donation of fibers, yarns, and fabrics by American Woolen Mills in 1912.
American Woolen Co. fancy worsted fabric samples, 1912.Group of 37 samples, all piece-dyed in various dark blues. "All worsted fancies".
Manufactured by the National and Providence Worsted Mills, Providence, RI. The Providence and National Worsted Mills, founded in Rhode Island in the 1870s, were originally two companies owned by Charles Fletcher, one a spinning and one a weaving mill for working with worsted yarns. Fletcher amalgamated the two companies into one in 1893, and then sold this company to the large Lawrence-based American Woolen Company in 1899. When the Lawrence mill workers struck against pay cuts in 1912 (the Bread and Roses strike), the American Woolen Company was one of the firms affected. The Rhode Island mills, however, did not strike.
Embroidered Cambric Banding. Schiffli embroidery reproduction of Hungarian hand-embroidery. Conventional pattern executed with brown, green, and white artificial silk on white cambric. Based on an original collected in Budapest by Mr. Stewart Culin for the Brooklyn Institute Museum.
Part of a group of Schiffli machine embroidered trimmings, primarily for apparel, manufactured by Alpha Embroidery Co. of New Jersey, many of which imitated hand embroidered national and regional styles, including from China and parts of Europe. The firm's designers used the Brooklyn Institute Museum to research original examples, which were copied or from which they drew inspiration. The products were sold in foreign markets in competition with the native hand work, as well as in the U.S.
Photograph, black & white: English Drawing, first finisher. American Woolen Co., The National & Providence Worsted Mills, Providence, RI. 1912.
One of a series of 71 photographs documenting the workings of the American Woolen Company's National & Providence Worsted Mills, part of a large donation of fibers, yarns, and fabrics by American Woolen Mills in 1912.
