18th Century TextilesPage 2
In the later eighteenth century, it was common in middling homes to hang a single curtain over a window, pulled up during the day as shown in this painting. This was known as a 'festoon' curtain, and generally required a light fabric, either wool, or a mixture of cotton and linen, or, more expensively, silk in a patterned weave such as damask. Blue and white stripes are frequently mentioned in inventories of 1780s.
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'The Fruits of Early Industry and Economy', by George Morland, c.1789; oil on canvas.
© Philadelphia Museum of Art: The John Howard McFadden Collection, 1928