Collections record Beta

Textile Fragments

1909-01-1A

Printed calico, covering of bed, windows, and valance. Brown branches and leaves with red buds and flowers. Block printed. "Indienne" palampore design on cotton and linen. The design is of Peonies and exotic conventionalized fruit and floral forms on brown bamboo branches. The Arborescent pattern is undoubtedly copied from an Indian design and is block printed and penciled in brown, two shades of madder red, light blue, and lavender with outlines in black. Has a cartridge pleated heading backed with muslin & bound on top and bottom with woven twill linen tape. The design reverses itself and is so characteristic of Indian techniques that it may possibly be a true Indian painted calico or chintz in which case it may be pre-revolutionary. However the consistent width refutes this conclusion. Possibly the bed furniture was similar to that of the Curwen House bed in the Essex Institute with pieces A and B forming the straight falls of the valance.

Printed calico covering bed windows and valance for walls for southeast bedroom of Tallmadge House. Presumably put up 1784 when Mrs. Tallmadge was a bride. Belonged to Mary Floyd, 1st wife of Col. B. Tallmadge.

c1775-1785

Selvage to selvage 26.5" X 21.75"

• cotton