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Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1962.28.2b  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut H…
Bed Curtains
Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1962.28.2b Photograph by Gavin Ashworth. © 2009 The Connecticut Historical Society.
Photographs and all rights purchased by the Connecticut Historical Society.

Bed Curtains

Embroiderer (American, 1735 - 1822)
Dateabout 1770
MediumHand-stitched embroidery; crewel wool on plain-woven linen; woven tape
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of bedcurtain .a): 79 1/2 x 42 3/4in. (201.9 x 108.6cm)
Primary Dimensions (height x width of bedcurtains .b): 78 1/2 x 41in. (199.4 x 104.1cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Newton C. Brainard
DescriptionPair of narrow bed curtains, part of a set of bed hangings consisting of two bed curtains (.a, .b), a headcloth (.c), three valances (.d-.f), a pillowcase (.g) and a fragment (.h). The bed hangings are hand-stitched with crewel, or two-ply worsted wool, on a plain-woven linen ground. The wool on these bedhangings is in many colors, including red, pink, dark medium and light blue, blue-green, light green, dark green, gold, yellow, tan, and cream. The bed curtains and valances are decorated with large and small birds, undulating vines, leaves and flowers.

Each bed curtain is rectangular, oriented vertically. Each has a dense field of undulating and dividing vines with leaves, flowers, fruit and berries. One bed curtain (.b) has a large bird, in shades of red, with a fan-shaped tail imitating peacock feathers. Each bed curtain has one small bird. One bed curtain (.a) has small flying insects.

Each bed curtain is constructed of two panels of plain-woven linen that were hand-stitched together prior to the embroidery. Each bed curtain has a selvedge on the left side and a 3/16-inch double-turned hem on the top, bottom, and right side.

Stitches: The principal stitch on each bed curtain is outline; stitches also include encroaching satin, roumanian (oriental), long and short, darning, herringbone, bullion, buttonhole, daisy, long-armed cross, and rice.

Condition: Small areas of crewel wool are missing from scattered areas on each bed curtain. Significantly more crewel wool is missing from the bottom of bed curtain .a. The ground of each bed curtain has scattered light brown stains. The ground of bed curtain .b has two small holes. At one time a wide hem was folded and stitched on the right and left side of bed curtains .a and .b respectively; the bed curtains were sewn together to possibly form a bedspread. An additional wide hem was added to the right side of bed curtain .b. The bed curtains have been detached and the hems completely or partially unstitched.
Object number1962.28.2a,b
On View
Not on view
Wholecloth Quilt
Mercy Copp
embroidered 1775-1800, quilted 1800-1825
Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1962.28.2d,e,g  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connectic…
Prudence Geer
about 1770
Gift of Mrs. William Talcott, 1844.21.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut …
Priscilla Kingsbury
1770-1790
Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1962.28.2c  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut H…
Punderson family
1795-1815
2005.178.1
Mary Augusta Young
about 1969
Bedding Fragment
Punderson family
about 1770-1780
Gift of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, 1964.35.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © …
Elizabeth Swan
1761-1778
The Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund,  2002.40.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Con…
Denison Family
1740-1760
Museum purchase, 1982.58.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut Historical So…
Unknown
1750-1825
Bed
Eliphalet Chapin
about 1775
The Mischievous Mouse.
E.B. & E.C. Kellogg
1845