L2015.1042.020 C Reed; overall
  • L2015.1042.020 C Reed; overall
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Tool (for textiles) (Reed)

  • Category:

    Tools

  • Place of Origin:

    Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

  • Date:

    1800-1900

  • Materials:

    Reed; Hemp; Wood

  • Museum Object Number:

    2015.0028.026


  • Complete Details



Object Number

2015.0028.026

Object Name

Tool (for textiles) (Reed)

Category

Tools

Credit Line/Donor

Museum purchase with funds provided by Mrs. Jeanne L. Asplundh

Place of Origin

Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Origin Notes

Likely Berks, Bucks or Montgomery County

Date

1800-1900

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Endpiece; "IB" flanked by sunburst motif

Materials

Reed; Hemp; Wood

Dimensions (inches)

3.5 (H) , 45.25 (L) , 0.25 (W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

8.89 (H) , 114.935 (L) , 0.635 (W)

Object Description

Web - 12/14/2016

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.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[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.