Textiles in America, 1650-1870 by Florence M. Montgomery

Now back in print! First published in 1984, this fascinating volume has become the definitive study of textiles in early American homes. Imported textiles played a vital role in the lives of the Colonists. Used for bedding, clothing, household linens, curtains, upholstery, and floor covering, they were more highly valued than anything except land, buildings, and, in rare instances, wrought silver.

 

We are fortunate in that early textile tradesmen have left us a large number of documents. Numerous books of cloth swatches containing period terms, dimensions, prices, and manufacturers' names can be found worldwide. More recent scrapbooks have provided another vast resource. Seen here in both color and black-and-white illustrations are samples from the world over as well as drawings and engravings of the time that depict the myriad household uses for textiles.

 

A discussion of furnishing practices in England and America as well as textiles for period rooms in America form the introduction to the invaluable core of this volume: a dictionary of textile terms based on original documents, prints and paintings, commercial records, American merchants' paper, shopkeepers' advertisements, and pattern books.

 

Textiles in America 1650-1870 is a comprehensive resource and a treasure trove of scholarship.