Description:
Two? plain-weave, resist-printed, blue and white cotton bed valances. While the construction of the valances is more recent, the blue and white resist-printed pattern dates to the 18th century. The indigo-resist pattern (known in the 18th century as paste work) was made by applying wax, starch, or (later) a chemical paste in the desired pattern to white fabric. When the fabric was dipped into the indigo bath, the paste "resisted" the dye, leaving the "waxed" fabric white. Then the wax was reapplied within each design to make multiple shades of blue; when the cloth dipped again, those areas not covered by the wax became an even deeper blue. In this example, the lighter-toned blue was achieved through the application of a bleaching substance onto the already-dyed indigo design. Similar examples of this technique are in the Winterthur Museum (1980.109.2) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subjects:
Textile fabrics; Cotton Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+F.285 |
