Textiles (Clothing)
Bagley & Carleton (Manufacturer)
Bigelow Carpet Company (Manufacturer)
Massachusetts, United States, North America
1860-1875
Wool; Linen; Brass; Canvas; Jute
Woven
2000.0052
Object Number2000.0052 |
Bag (Carpet bag)
Textiles (Clothing)
Museum purchase
Bagley & Carleton (Manufacturer)
Bigelow Carpet Company (Manufacturer)
Massachusetts, United States, North America
1860-1875
Wool; Linen; Brass; Canvas; Jute
Woven
Hand-stitched
A carpet bag, designed to hold documents. This bag was produced for the Bigelow carpet company by Bagley & Carlton (Massachusetts), from Bigelow Brussels carpet during the Civil War/Reconstruction period. Brussels carpet is a thick, woven carpet with loop-pile, made from wool weft and woven onto a jute warp to create 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. Because of this color limitation, two different woven patterns are used in this bag, the floral for the body and a multi-colored, geometric pattern along the sides and handle.The body of the bag has a square shape and is fully lined with white (or cream) cotton or linen broadcloth. The bag closes with a flap and secures with a two part brass hardware latch (a flat arrow shaped tip in the center of the flap, a round segment attached to the body of the bag). The top flap is trimmed with cotton tape. The handle is built from a strip of the same geometric patterned carpet used along the sides. The strip is rolled around a length of (sisal or jute) rope and stitched closed along the underside. An iron key is pinned to the lining. Mark: Stamped in black ink along interior of flap: "Carpet bags/Manufactured from/Bigelow's Brussels Carpet/by Bagley & Carleton/Clinton, Mass"