Tools
Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America
1800-1900
Reed; Hemp; Wood
2015.0028.026
Object Number2015.0028.026 |
Tool (for textiles) (Reed)
Tools
Museum purchase with funds provided by Mrs. Jeanne L. Asplundh
Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America
Likely Berks, Bucks or Montgomery County
1800-1900
1. Inscription; Endpiece; "IB" flanked by sunburst motif
Reed; Hemp; Wood
3.5 (H) , 45.25 (L) , 0.25 (W)
8.89 (H) , 114.935 (L) , 0.635 (W)
This 'reed' is made of several hundred lengths of woody reeds, sandwiched in place by two long, thin pieces of wood wrapped tightly with varnished cotton twine. When weaving, the reed separates each individual thread of a warp and keeps them at the proper spacing. This reed has 850 spaces, or dents, making it appropriate to weave finer linen cloth. The reed sits in the beater of the loom, and so is also used to compact the woven fabric as the weaver works.
This particular reed is marked with the initials "I.B." flanked with a circular sunburst motif.
[Book] Pritchard, M. E. 1954 A Short Dictionary of Weaving: Including Some Spinning, Dyeing and Textile Terms and a Beginner's Guide to Weaving and Dyeing. 196.
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