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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: cogar on December 14, 2018, 09:39:44 am
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The following 2 pictures are that of a ”clothe press” that was made by Violet’s grandfather who was a cabinetmaker and carpenter.
She inherited it when her mother passed away and it is still sitting downstairs where it was photographed.
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Nice, straightforward design. In central Missouri we'd call that "German craftsmanship."
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Nice work !!
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Beautiful piece!
Funny thing...from the title I was thinking a cloth press/mangler! Shows my mindset! :O
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What makes it a clothes press as a posed a cabinet?
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What makes it a clothes press as a posed a cabinet?
Not to be "smarty" ;D ;D but I assume its a "clothes press" because that is what Violet's grandpa called it, …….. and for good reason too, …… to wit:
English Clothes Press, ca. 1780
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/season/6/tucson-az/appraisals/english-clothes-press--200101A21/ (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/season/6/tucson-az/appraisals/english-clothes-press--200101A21/)
Of course, Violet's cabinet ;) is about 100 years younger than the above cited one.
Just Google image ……. English Clothes Press
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It is correct that there were "Clothe Press" Cabinets that were known as a "Linen-Press".
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I had forgotten about the "Linen-Press".
Anyway, I've always assumed they were called "presses" simply because that is where they stored all of the "pressed" (ironed) items after they had been laundered (washed-dried-pressed) ….... such as sheets, tablecloths, napkins, etc., to keep them clean and dust free.
And many of those aforenoted items were made of linen, ….. thus a "Linen-Press".
Closets with shelves were scarce as "hen's teeth" back in those times, ….. so free-standing presses, cabinets and trunks had to suffice. ;) ;) ;)
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Love, love, love it!
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Ding Ding Ding! That's it Cogar! You have a Linen Press! :)
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That's it Cogar! You have a Linen Press!
KC, I hafta agree with you …… but I’m not sure the wife will. 😊
And the reason I agree is the origin of the cabinet is here in central West Virginia where flax is easily grown …… but cotton is not.
Anyway, here is a quickie “pictorial” of old time “linen” making for those who might not be familiar with how it was done. (And subject to mistakes on my part.)
The growing and harvesting of flax, which was then processed and “spun” into thread via use of a “flax spinning wheel”, to wit:
(https://auctionimages.s3.amazonaws.com/63030/73014/63378805.jpg)
And the flax thread was then wound up via use of a “flax winder”, to wit:
(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/19/33/80/193380071f22d444a61a948b0abeff89.jpg)
To create "skeins of flax" to be dyed to the colored desired, to wit:
(https://img0.etsystatic.com/003/0/6648312/il_570xN.372737252_7rpb.jpg)
And then, via use of a loom, the flax thread was woven into linen (cloth) which was then used to produce many products such as: aprons, bags, towels (bath, body and wash towels), napkins, bed linens, tablecloths, runners, chair covers, and men's and women's wear.
Linen from flax …. and wool from sheep …… was used for making family necessities.