Neckerchief

Description

Irregular square neckerchief with 1/4" squares finely outlined in black; 7/8" wide border comprised of black lines that are 1/8" wide with seven fine black lines in between.

Notes

The textile collection of the Museum includes numerous neckerchiefs, garments designed for women to wear around their neck and shoulders. Neckerchiefs covered most of the torso and the corners extended in front to the waistline of the wearer. Unfolded neckerchiefs are square. The wearer would fold the neckerchief in half and drape it over her shoulders, pinning the corners in front. Some neckerchiefs were sewn in their folded position, making the neckerchief tidier and stiffer in apperance. By the turn of the 20th century, most Shaker women wore berthas instead of neckerchiefs. Berthas performed the same function as neckerchiefs, but they differed in their design. Berthas consist of a single layer of cloth with rounded, as opposed to straight, edges. John S. Williams, Sr. acquired the white linen neckerchief with block-printed border decoration from Emma King of Canterbury in April 1952. The neckerchief is plain woven, and King believed that it had been made and decorated by the Shakers.