Museum Object Number2012.0024.191 |
Bag (Carpet bag)
Textiles (Clothing)
Gift of Davison B. Hawthorne
Bagley & Carleton (Manufacturer)
Bigelow Carpet Company (Manufacturer)
Massachusetts, United States, North America
Clinton, Mass
1860-1875
1. Mark; Lining of bag flap; "Carpet bags/Manufactured from/Bigelow's Brussels Carpet/by [..??....]" Unintelligible
Wool; Cotton; Brass; Jute; Linen; Canvas
Woven
Hand stitched
18 (H) , 13.5 (W) , 2.5 (D)
45.72 (H) , 34.29 (W) , 6.35 (D)
Height was measured with the handle arranged to sit at its highest point (the way it would sit on the bag if both sides of the handle were secured to the bag).
A carpet bag produced for the Bigelow carpet company by Bagley & Carlton, from Bigelow Brussels carpet.This bag was designed to hold documents and it has a square shape with a flap at the top that secures with a brass latch. Brussels carpet is a thick, woven carpet with loop-pile, made from wool. The thick looped pile is woven into a series of colorful floral designs. The machinery used to create Brussels carpet during this time period was limited to weaving with up to six different yarns at once, giving a maximum variety of six colors in one woven piece. Three different woven patterns are used in this bag.The body of the bag has a square shape and was fully lined with white (or cream) cotton or linen broadcloth. The top flap is trimmed with cotton tape. The handle is built from a strip of the same carpet pattern used along the sides. The strip is rolled around a length of ( sisal or jute) rope and stitched closed along the underside. The manufacturer's mark is stamped in black ink on the lining under the top flap: "Carpet bags/Manufactured from/Bigelow's Brussels Carpet/by [...Carleton...Missing/Unintelligible]" complete examples of this label continue to read "by Bagley & Carleton/Clinton, Mass"