Handkerchief

Description

This plaid, silk handkerchief features Jacquard woven bird motifs. Each bird is holding a diamond-shaped placard with the number “76” on it. The handkerchief has two selvedge edges and two edges that are machine-hemmed with a chain stitch. A 3.5-inch blue border creates a frame along the kerchief’s outer edges. Kerchiefs were popular accessories for both men and women in the 19th century, both for their functional qualities and as an inexpensive way to add a splash of color to an outfit. This object is one of a large group transferred to Winterthur from the American Textile History Museum when it closed in 2017.