Images(7)

Swatch or Sample Book, Manchester cotton-linens

Dateca. 1780

Artist/Maker Thomas Smith

OriginEngland, Manchester

MediumPaperboard, marbelized paper, linen inner binding, with cotton and cotton-linen textile swatches

DimensionsFolded 6 X 10 inches Extended: 140 5/8 inches long

Credit LineBequest of Grace Hartshorn Westerfield

Object number1974-570

DescriptionThis is a manufacturer's swatch book designed to be roll-folded from the ends to the center, bound with a heavy marbelized paper cover in green, black, red-pink, and gold. The book contains 24 pages with 567 small swatches, most measuring 7/8 by 1 1/2 inches, with a few up to 4 1/8 by 5 inches, all mounted on pages pre-printed in blue on white with narrow border and small divisions for mounting the swatches. The swatches consist of printed, corded, fancy-weave, and woven quilted cotton and cotton-linen textiles, as follows, from left to right:
5 pages plus two swatches on the 6th page of white and off-white corded striped dimities, corded checks, and small-scale diamond patterned woven quiltings of the type known in the period as "Marseilles" quiltings (numbers 13102 to 13195).
4 pages of colored tan, brown, maroon, dark green, and blue unnapped textile swatches woven in tabby, twill, corded, and fancy weaves (numbers 13196 to 13301).
8 pages of cotton velvet and corded textiles, mostly dark browns, with a few swatches of purple, maroon, cream, and pink of the type known in the period as "velverets". The textiles are woven in napped techniques similar in appearance to modern cotton velveteen and corduroy (numbers 13302 to 13417).
3 pages of cotton-linen swatches block-printed with small-scale abstract designs, including four larger swatches of border prints. The colors are predominantly brown, with some reds, pale greens, and golds on white ground (numbers 13518 to 13584).
3 pages of printed napped cotton textiles, mostly tan and brown with some reds, pale greens, and golds. The designs are small-scale abstract geometrics with four larger swatches of border prints with floral or leafy borders (numbers 13586 to 13643).
1 page of twill and corded textiles, and cotton velvets, all printed in small-scale designs using yellow gilt (numbers 13644 to 13667).
Label TextSwatch Book
Manchester, England, ca. 1780
Paper mounted with cotton and cotton-linen swatches, ragboard covers
1974-570

The swatches in this book attest to the variety and popularity of cottons and cotton-linens made in the Manchester area of England during the late eighteenth century. Some of the swatches are suitable for women's clothing and accessories. The heavier cotton velveteens, known as "velverets" in the period, were popular for men's suits and waistcoats.
InscribedNo. 50 inked on inside page. Each swatch identified with an inked circle of cut or punched serrated paper, hand numbered 13102 to 13667 (most numbers are consecutive, but some are skipped.)
ProvenanceEx. Coll. Grace Hartshorn Westerfield