Bag (Carpet bag)

  • Category:

    Textiles (Clothing)

  • Creator (Role):

    Bagley & Carleton (Manufacturer)

    Bigelow Carpet Company (Manufacturer)

  • Place of Origin:

    Massachusetts, United States, North America

  • Date:

    1860-1875

  • Materials:

    Wool; Canvas; Linen; Jute; Brass

  • Techniques:

    Woven

  • Museum Object Number:

    2010.0020


  • Complete Details



Object Number

2010.0020

Object Name

Bag (Carpet bag)

Category

Textiles (Clothing)

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Linda Eaton

Creator (Role)

Bagley & Carleton (Manufacturer)

Bigelow Carpet Company (Manufacturer)

Place of Origin

Massachusetts, United States, North America

Date

1860-1875

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Leather label on side of bag; Ink (in script) "Mrs WM W Cornell/Troy, NY"

Materials

Wool; Canvas; Linen; Jute; Brass

Techniques

Woven

Dimensions (inches)

6.9 (H) , 6 (W) , 2 (D)

Dimensions (centimeters)

17.5 (H) , 16 (W) , 5 (D)

Object Description

Web - 03/15/2016

A carpet bag, designed to hold documents. This bag was probably produced for the Bigelow carpet company by Bagley & Carlton (Massachusetts) from Bigelow Wilton carpet during the Civil War/Reconstruction period. Wilton is a plush, woven carpet, with cut-loop pile, created on a power loom. The carpet uses wool weft on a jute warp. Two different woven patterns are used.The plush pile on the body of the bag is woven into a large scale, floral design on a cream background. The pattern used on the side and handle appear to be long stripes of color, set vertically on the sides and horizontally on the handle. The body of the bag has a square shape and was fully lined with white (or cream) cotton or linen broad cloth. 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 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 machinery used to create loomed 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 design. The looped pile was cut open with a wire cutter as a step on the loom. Marks: A rectangular strip of leather attached to the side of the bag is written with ink "Mrs Wm W Cornell/Troy, NY" On the interior of the flap, fabric missing from the lining appears to also read "Mrs. Wm Cornell/ Troy, NY" This was probably written in ferrous ink, which can disintegrate the fabric over time and create the visual effect of showing the original writing in a negative space. Woven on a power loom. Wilton is actually created from the looped Brussels style of loomed carpet when the Brussels loops are cut open on the loom with a wire attachment.