Collections Database

Description:
White linen towel woven in a variation of 2:2 twill weave, sometimes known as a diaper or bird's eye design. A note accompanying the towel notes "Rebecca Hatch b.1798." The selvage-wide towel also features a decorative and functional fringe at both the top and bottom. The 3/4" fringe is formed by an extension of the warp threads from the woven fabric, and helps to minimize fraying without having to hem these sides. Linen is absorbent and this kind of twill weave helps strengthen the towel, and provides more surface area (via the short floats) to absorb water and other liquids. White linen can be rebleached when needed.

Subjects:
Textile fabrics; Linen

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+F.105.1

Research on objects in the collections, including provenance, is ongoing and may be incomplete. If you have additional information or would like to learn more about a particular object, please email fc-museums-web@fivecolleges.edu.