Enlarged papier mache model of male silk moth, can be taken apart for study. Parts are numbered. One of a pair, male and female; together with a silkworm model. Made by firm of Louis Auzoux, French naturalist and anatomist. Transferred from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture sericulture display, 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.
Enlarged papier mache model of silkworm. Large model which can be taken apart for the purpose of study: parts are numbered. Dated 1895. Part of a set with models of male and female silk moths. Made by the firm started by French naturalist and anatomist Louis Thomas Jérôme Auzoux. Transferred from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture sericulture display, 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.
Enlarged Model of female silk moth, can be taken apart for study. Made by the firm started by French naturalist and anatomist Louis Auzoux. Transferred from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture sericulture display, 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.
Original Design for "Bulgarian" printed satin, Cheney Brothers, 1913. Fabrics in NMAH collection, T 1041-1043. Modernist floral, inspired by Fauve coloring and European modernist styling.
Men's silk pocket handkerchief, All silk plain weave, with 2 sides hemmed and 2 sides selvage. Plain white with a lavender striped border. Gift of Cheney Brothers, Setp. 22, 1921. Original number 3059.
Man's silk muffler; Gift of Cheney Brothers; Sept. 22, 1921. Fancy accordion weave, woven in tubular form; ornamented with two satin weave warp stripes. The two ends are finished with fringe. Original number 3081. Colors: Variegated and black.
Man's silk muffler; Gift of Cheney Brothers; Sept. 22, 1921. Plain accordion weave, woven in tubular form; with 3 weft stripes forming a border on the ends, and finished with fringe. Original number 4747. Colors: black and white.
Sample length of tan silk, very fine, flat rib weave, called Faille. Silk dress goods. Manufactured by Phoenix Silk Co. Purchased for $1.50 per yard from Lansburgh & Bro., 420-430 7th St., Washington DC. Jan 29 1915. Width, 36"
"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.
"Charmeuese" silk dress fabric, A lightweight satin with a high natural lustre and a soft hand. White. Sold for $2.00 per yard at Lansburgh & Bro. 420-430 7th St., Washington, DC, Jan 29 1915. Width - 40" ; Manufactured by Stehli & Co.; 1915
Pair of man's silk and worsted machine-knitted socks; Made with black worsted and white silk in a heather mixture. Size No. 11; Original number 3070. Example of Cheney Brothers' efforts to meet the needs of many markets in the consumption of silk products - from fabrics of all kinds to finished goods. Gift of Cheney Brothers; Sept. 22, 1921.
Man's silk muffler; Gift of Cheney Brothers; Sept. 22, 1921. Fancy barathea (textured weave) woven in tubular form in a black and white warp stripe pattern, with 3 weft stripes at each end to form a border design. The two border ends are finished with fringe. Original number 3094.
"Dressing Machine--Cheney Brothers Factory"; Photograph, 1915. Adult male worker tending large silk fiber dressing machine. Keystone View Co. One of 46 photographic reproductions of views illustrating sericulture in Japan and silk manufacture in the Cheney Brothers factory in South Manchester, Connecticut. Donated by Cheney Brothers in 1915 for use in the National Museum's Textile Hall. With caption, 12" x 10".
"Spinning--Cheney Brothers' Factory"; Photograph, 1915. Woman worker tending a long line of silk spinning machines. Keystone View Co. One of 46 photographic reproductions of views illustrating sericulture in Japan and silk manufacture in the Cheney Brothers factory in South Manchester, Connecticut. Donated by Cheney Brothers in 1915 for use in the National Museum's Textile Hall. With caption, 12" x 10".
"Flags--Cheney Brothers' Factory"; Photograph, 1915. Depicts stack of silk 'flags' (bundles of silk fibers) ready for the spinning process. Keystone View Co. One of 46 photographic reproductions of views illustrating sericulture in Japan and silk manufacture in the Cheney Brothers factory in South Manchester, Connecticut. Donated by Cheney Brothers in 1915 for use in the National Museum's Textile Hall. With caption, 12" x 10".
"Bleaching Vats for Cloth--Cheney Brothers' Factory"; photograph, 1915. View of mill interior with wooden bleaching vats; two workmen in distance. Keystone Views. One of 46 photographic reproductions of views illustrating sericulture in Japan and silk manufacture in the Cheney Brothers factory in South Manchester, Connecticut. Donated by Cheney Brothers in 1915 for use in the National Museum's Textile Hall. With caption, 12" x 10".
"Tub Satin" washable silk dress fabric somewhat resembling a satin-taffeta in surface appearance. White. Sold for $1.25 per yard at Lansburgh & Bro., 420-430 7th St., Washington DC, Jan 29 1915. Width: 32". Manufactured by Schwarzenbach, Huber Co.; 1915
Sample of "Bengaline" silk dress goods. A plain heavy, corded fabric, after the poplin order, with cotton filling for the cord and silk warp. Warp-faced weave. Color: white. Sold for $1.00 per yard at Lansburgh & Bro., 420-430 7th St., Washington, DC. Purchased Jan 29 1915.; Manufactured by Victor & Achelis; 1915.
