Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Word of the Day for 9/20

Today's Word of the Day is from a medical dictionary from the 19th century.
Contused Wound: an injury in which the skin is not broken, a bruise. "Many children sustain bumps and contused wounds in their lifetimes with little to no ill-effects." 

Other news:
Louise, one of our weavers, is in the process of warping the loom in Humphrey House for a new project. She will be weaving 3 corded petticoats based on an original from the Ontario County Historical Society that we have had on loan for the past two months.  When finished, the fabric she weaves will make 3 "stick-out" petticoats. These petticoats were woven with cords in them for stiffness. The cords would also absorb starch and, before the advent of the hooped petticoat, maintain enough stiffness to give a fluffy, 1830s-1850s silhouette.


This example from the MET has the corded sewn into the fabric rather than woven.




Foster-Tufts has changed into it's final exhibit for the season; Mourning in the early 19th century. In the exhibit, you can see how a house was prepared to receive callers for a funeral, what foods were served, the attire of some of the mourners, and other accessories and decorations for the occasion. 







 

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