Textiles in America, 1650-1870

Florence M. Montgomery

Praise:

"A fascinating and thorough account here…[a] valuable resource for researchers and laypersons alike." - Choice

Overview

First published in 1984, this remains the definitive study of textiles as they were used in early American homes. The book offers an overview of textiles in America, based on years of research, that is unmatched in scope.

Imported textiles played a central role in the lives of American colonists. The most-imported commodity, and a highly valued one, textiles were used for bedding, bed curtains, clothing, household linens, window curtains, upholstery, and floor covering.

This book illustrates samples from collections around the world, as well as drawings and engravings of the time. Its dictionary-style entries depict the myriad household uses for textiles in the period. Drawing on original documents, prints, paintings, commercial records, merchant papers, advertisements, and pattern books, Textiles in America is a comprehensive resource, and a treasure trove of scholarship.

About the Author

The late Florence M. Montgomery was Assistant Curator of Textiles at the Winterthur Museum and consultant for textiles at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

ISBN 10: 0-393-73224-X
ISBN 13: 978-0-393-73224-5
August 2007 / 117 color and 255 black & white illustrations / 496 pages