"Metric" furnishing fabric length; by P. Kaufman Fabrics; 1974. A large scale pattern of interlocking geometric forms (similar to tiles or shingles); orange, gold, tan & brown on white ground; given name: "Metric". Selvage inscription: "FILKAUF__INHERENTLY FIRE RETARDENT FABRIC SCREEN PRINTED".
Fabric length; by Mary H. Wells for Woodprint Designs; 1971. Selvage inscription: "COPYRIGHT WOODPRINT DESIGNS INC. 12 3 14 HANDPRINTED." Areas of blue on white ground, woodgrain pattern w/ areas of blue abstract design superimposed over orange abstract swirl pattern on white ground; large scale pattern. Designer: Mary H. Wells
"Crystal Block" furnishing fabric length; by F. Schumacher & Co.; 1961. Selvage inscription: "CRYSTAL BLOCK" An Exclusive Schumacher Screen Print/ Copyright F. Schumacher & Co." Geometric pattern with varying widths of "brush stroke" lines; grey & black with long splotches of blue & green on white ground.
"Highland" fabric sample; by Charles Morris for Tilbury Fabrics; 1974. Selvage inscription: "UP GUARANTEED SCREEN PRINT__CHETLEY ORIGINALS" Plaid design; given name "Highland"; 8 screens (colors/pattern); stripes of brown & golds are printed over each other to form the "textural" pattern; black, gold, brown, chocolate brown, rust & celery. Designer: Charles Morris
Furnishing fabric length, selvage inscription: "Crystal Damask" An Exclusive Schumacher Screen Print/ Copyright F. Schumacher & Co. A Fiberglas Decorative Screen Print" Design of a large floral medallion in olive green on light green ground.
"Crystal Floral" furnishing fabric length; F. Schumacher & Co.; 1961. Selvage inscription: ""Crystal Floral" An Exclusive Schumacher Screen Print Copyright F. Schumacher & Co."
Embroidered Cambric Banding. Schiffli embroidery reproduction on Hungarian Hand-embroidery. Conventionalized floral pattern executed with blur artificial silk filling outlined with old gold cord on red cambric. Based on original collected in Budapst 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 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.
American Woolen Company Boucle cloaking fabric sample, 1912. 22 ounce weight, in black. 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.
Sample of Single Mohair Yarn, Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, 1914. One bobbin. Single yarn, natural color. Used for weaving imitation fur goods, dress goods, and cloakings. Given by Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, headquartered in Boston with a mill in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1914, along with samples of mohair fiber in various stages of processing, and samples of the company's finished textiles.
Length of Cotton & Wool Embroidered Band Trimming. Schiffli embroidery reproduction of Hungarian hand-embroidery. Solid conventional pattern executed with yellow mercerized cotton and orange & black wool 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 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.
American Woolen Company fabric samples of woven wool "broad diagonal suiting"; two different shades of dark blue; bound with black tape by machine. A = Very Dark blue; B = Dark blue. Piece-dyed - woven in the gray (undyed yarn) and dyed after being woven. Label: "A.W.Co. of N.Y., Dept ONE-B" "London Shrunk ". Made in the American Woolen Company'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.
American Woolen Co. fancy worsted fabric samples, 1912. 1/4 fancy worsteds; Union dyed. Bound with black tape by machine. 2 samples: A. Very dark blue with red pinstripe; B. Dark brown with black pinstripe.
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.
A sample length of Shelton Looms upholstery cut pile fabric, "Continental". This novelty upholstery velvet has very short dark red mohair pile in a very open weave so that the contrasting yellow ground shows through. Color: mulberry, 3002. Mfr # 148F. One of a group of fabric samples given by Sidney Blumenthal & Co., Inc, owner and operatorof the Shelton Looms. 52" width, sample length 36". White warp; yellow weft, dark red pile warp. Stencilled Mfrs. mark. Yellow twill tape machine stitched along one selvedge.
Sample of Collins & Aikman Corporation mercerized cotton figured upholstery velvet, 1929. Cut pile in a diamond grid with an open center voided to a plain weave ground. The grid pattern is dark brown and white with a bright green dot at each intersection. The ground alternates red and yellow warps, with a dark brown weft. Non-directional design.The green and white pile warps are sheared away on the back of the cloth, and not continuos from one area of use to another. Half width. Machine overlocked on three sides; no selvage.
Collins & Aikman Corporation was founded in 1891 and incorporated in 1929. The company made high end upholstery fabrics, including velvets and plushes in cotton, mohair, and silk, and beginning in the 1910s, artifical silk (rayon). Early on the firm competed successfully in the market for automotive and aviation fabrics. In the 1920s the company had mills in Astoria (Queens), New York; Philadelphia, PA; and North Carolina.
American Woolen Co., cotton carded 3/4 suiting fabric samples, 1912; bound with black tape by machine. COLORS: A - Brown background with decorative red and gold thread; B - Charcoal with decorative red and white thread.
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.
Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, cut and uncut pile upholstery or furnishing fabric known as "Lorna".; Yarn-dyed, lightweight, short pile fabric resembling a velour, with the pile spaced by three weft picks, the center pick thicker than the other two. This gives a horizontal stripe or pile rib effect, which is further patterned with an abstract design of horizontal broken lines of various lengths at irregularly spaced intervale, in looped pile which conrasts with the cut pile background. Color: Yellow-tan. Massachusetts Mohair Plush Co. was headquartered in Boston but had a mill in Lowell, Massachusetts. According to the manufacturer, this pattern is "furniture quality."
"Marquisette" silk dress fabric; A plain, open weave fabric made in a grenadine weave. Manufactured by M.C. Migel & Co.; 1915. Purchased for $1.00 per yard at Lansburgh & Bro., 420-430 7th St., Washington DC, Jan 29, 1915.
Photograph, black & white: English Drawing, Reducer. 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.
A length of Shelton Looms "Audubon" novelty pile fabric. A novelty plush with a long artificial silk cut pile, randomly tinted blue and golden yellow, and pressed in swirls to imitate bird plumage. According to the initial cataloging from the accession file, "The colors of this fabric were inspired by the feathers of the Callistel." One of a group of samples of novelty pile fabrics given by Sidney Blumenthal & Co., Inc., owner and operator of the Shelton Looms, Shelton, CT, in 1921. Width 51", sample length not noted. Mfr # 12254E
