Silk Brocade Document

DateCa. 1790

OriginGreat Britain; used in America, Virginia, Williamsburg

MediumSilk

DimensionsOverall (H x W): 17 1/2 x 19in. (44.5 x 48.3cm) Other (Selvedge Width): 19in. (48.3cm) Other (Design Repeat (H x W)): 8 1/2 x 9 1/4in. (21.6 x 23.5cm) Physical Description (PPI): 104 Physical Description (EPI): 176

Credit LineGift of Janet Cook Howard

Object number1990-95

DescriptionThis rectangular fragment of cream taffeta was used to back a sampler created in Williamsburg, Virginia.. It has a design of small, isolated floral bouquets over satin-weave self-colored stripes. The bouquets consist of pink or purple daisy-shaped flowers with pointy leaves set above this self-stripes. Between the bouquets are wider satin stripes with self-figured laurel wreaths and star-shaped flowers. The wide stripes are flanked by pink and blue flowers. At the center there is a stripe flanked by self-figured undulating vines. The top and bottom edges are raw. The left and right edges are selvedges. The selvedges are ¼” wide in plain weave of the same fineness of the body weave. There is a single corded warp on the outside edge. There is a 13 x 14 ¾” rectangle folded into the center where the piece was used to back a sampler. The central rectangle is less faded than the rest of the fragment. There are remnants of glue and paper throughout the fragment.
Label TextThis type of patterned silk was used for women's gowns during the eighteenth century. This fragment was preserved by being used as the backing for a sampler.
MarkingsNone
ProvenanceOwned by Mary Savage Hankins (1844-1951);
By descent to her daughter, Harriet Parker Hankins (1884-1967), 1951;
By descent to her brother, Cyrus Hankins (1890-1974), 1967;
By descent to his wife, Ann (Nan) Makin Hankins Gambrill, 1974;
Sold to Janet Cook Howard, Williamsburg VA, November 16, 1985;
Given to CWF, 1990.