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For internal use only
Not On Display
Towel
Dorothy Merriam, Emily C., or Clara Hill Chambers
1810-1850
Description
This white linen towel was handwoven in the mid-19th century by either Dorothy Merriam Chambers (1778-1872) or her daughters, Emily (1810-1904) and Clara (1819-1864). The Chambers family moved to their farm in Otisfield, Maine on February 5, 1801. Like many early American weavers, they grew and processed their own flax, spun it into linen thread, and wove it into fabric. This towel has a 2/2 broken twill design, patterned to form small concentric diamond shapes. This object is one of a large group transferred to Winterthur from the American Textile History Museum when it closed in 2017. It comes from the collection of weaver and author Constance Dann Gallagher and is featured in her 1968 book “Linen Heirlooms.” See bibliography.
Category
Textiles
Creator/Artist/Maker
Dorothy Merriam, Emily C., or Clara Hill Chambers (Weaver)
Place of Origin
Otisfield; Maine; Oxford; New England; United States; North America
Materials
- Linen
Museum Object Number
2017.0019.046.005
Credit Line/Donor
American Textile History Museum Collection, gift of Constance Dann Gallagher
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Complete Details
Object Number
2017.0019.046.005
Object Name
Towel
Category
Textiles - American Textile History Museum Collection
Creator (Role)
Dorothy Merriam, Emily C., or Clara Hill Chambers (Weaver)
Place of Origin
Otisfield; Maine; Oxford; New England; United States; North America
Date
1810-1850
Materials
- Linen
Techniques
- Woven (twill)
Dimensions (inches)
19.5 (W) x 35.5 (L)
Dimensions (centimeters)
49.53 (W) x 90.17 (L)