Related Artefacts Gallery

This early 18th-century sampler showcases various embroidery stitches and techniques practiced by young women in colonial America. The imagery includes alphabets, numerals, and pastoral scenes typical of the period.

This elaborately quilted petticoat represents the high level of needlework skill among colonial women. The detailed floral patterns would have been visible when the outer skirt was gathered up, displaying both the garment and the wearer's handiwork.

This handwritten letter details Eliza Lucas Pinckney's successful experiments with indigo cultivation in South Carolina, which became a crucial export crop. The document provides insights into colonial agricultural innovations and the natural dyes used in textile production.

This wooden tool with metal teeth was used to separate flax fibers in preparation for spinning into linen thread. The processing of flax was labor-intensive but essential for creating the linen textiles that were ubiquitous in colonial households.

This oil painting depicts a wealthy colonial woman wearing an intricately embroidered dress, showcasing the importance of textile artistry as a symbol of status and refinement in colonial society.

This ceremonial belt made from white and purple shell beads represents an important diplomatic agreement between Native American tribes and European colonists. Wampum belts served as historical records and were integral to treaty-making in colonial America.