Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Bolt, Cloth |
Common Name |
Fabric bolt |
Catalog Number |
2007.19.214 |
Maker |
Churchill Weavers |
Date |
1982-1985 |
Material(s) |
Wool/Plastic (Mylar)/Metal (Metallic Thread) |
Dimensions |
H-166 W-42 inches |
Description |
This is a bolt of Knodel fabric. The fabric is a composite material woven in plain weave and 3/3 twill weave structures with silver and copper metallic gimp, Mylar (BoPET), and 2-ply wool yarns. The warp consists of Mylar, copper gimp, and wool, and the weft is comprised primarily of Mylar with accents of silver gimp and wool yarn and three stripes made with wool. The overall pattern consists of six balanced stripes in wool that run lengthwise in the weave and bordered with copper gimp. Four stripes are dark gray and two are light gray and are woven in a 3/3 twill structure. Between the wool stripes are Mylar stripes. Two orange stripes and a cream colored stripe are woven in the weft near one short-end. Threads of silver gimp and cream yarn are woven as accents in the weft. Six straight pins are pinned to the fabric. The cloth is finished with two selvedge edges and unfinished edges on the short-ends. There occasional weft ends that have been left uncut. The sample also has two pieces of yellow packing tape adhered to one end. |
Notes |
This bolt of fabric was made for Gerhardt Knodel, a textile artist based in Michigan. His work combines texitles and fibers with archectural themes. He worked with companies like Churchill Weavers in the early 1980s to create cloths made with clear PVC, metallic thread, and cotton yarn. Churchill Weavers was started in 1922 by David Carroll and Eleanor Churchill in Berea, Kentucky. The company produced luxury hand-woven fabrics such as throws, baby blankets, ties, wraps and commissioned art pieces. In 1973, Lila and Richard Bellando bought the business from Mrs. Churchill. Churchill Weavers closed in 2007. That same year, the Kentucky Historical Society was able to purchase the collection which includes museum artifacts such as looms, fabric samples, finished woven pieces, and designs, as well as archival materials such as photographs, account ledgers, advertisement materials, business records and films. |
Collection |
Churchill Weavers Collection |
People |
Churchill, David C. Churchill, Eleanor Belando, Lila Bellando, Richard Knodel, Gerhardt |
Subjects |
Art Cloth Fabrics Textile art Textile industry Textiles Weaving |
Search Terms |
Berea (Ky.) Kentucky Churchill Weavers Madison County (Ky.) textile |
Physical Holder |
Kentucky Historical Society - KHS |