Advanced Search 
Handkerchief
1964-1965
Dimensions
Overall: 71.8 x 71.1 cm (28 1/4 x 28 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of the American Textile History Museum—Katherine M. Kreiser and Arthur D. Larson
Accession Number2017.1307
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsFashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
Description2Handkerchief with white rolled handstitched hem on 4 sides with 1 3/8" printed teal/blue border. Printed design starting in center shows globe of world with the continents in teal and logitude and latitude in black. Black lines encircle the globe. 8 point stars in black, red, orange, teal, olive green, and yellow are on either side of globe. "UNISPHERE" is printed beside globe. "1964" "1965" is printed in black over "WORLD'S FAIR" in alternating teal and orange below the globe. Good condition. Deep creases where folded. The designs printed on the scarf are of art deco style and are in the same colors as the stars. The corner above the globe shows buildings and the skyline of NY in yellow outlined in black. "NEW YORK" in large black letters reads along with "WORLD'S FAIR" beneath the globe. In the corner beneath the globe is a design of a monorail moving over the buildings of the fair. Printed in red beneath the design is "MONORAIL". The next corner shows a building with a helicopter landing on the roof and in red "HELIPORT/ c PORT OF NEW YORK AUTHORITY" printed beneath it. "SWISS SKY RIDE" is in the next corner & shows red gondolas with the numbers 2 & 3 on them traveling between yellow poles and over stick people and the fair. "GENERAL ELECTRIC/ EXHIBITION " with a circular building is on the side between the monorail and the Swiss sky ride. "SPANISH PAVILION" showing a building is between Swiss sky ride and New York skyline. "POOL OF INDUSTRY" showing fountains is between the heliport and New York skyline. For over 40 years, Elinor Chace Larson collected, studied and loved textiles, particularly printed textiles. Her interest included the technical processes of manufacture, the mills, the workers and in effect, all aspects of society in which the textiles were used. She lived in North Scituate, MA and Providence, RI near the location of many New England mills. She visited nearly all the region's museums and historical societies studying sample books and mill records, as well as visiting the mill sites. Larson died in 1989. This textile is from her collection. Larson, Elinor Chace. Mills, Printed Cottons and People of 19th Century New England. Privately printed, 1995. Brick, Cindy. Hankie History Reconsidered. AQSG Blanket Statements, Summer 2002.
Provenance2017, gift of the American Textile History Museum to the MFA. (Accession date: June 21, 2017)