Neckerchief
Neckerchief that may have been owned by Eldress Polly Reed, Church Family, Mount Lebanon, NY
Description
Irregular square neckerchief. Sheer linen, possibly woven with silk. 1/2" wide double-backed hem.
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. This sheer, off-white, linen (and possibly silk) neckerchief came from Emma King, and is embroidered with two sets of initials: "P.R." and "C.H." "P.R." stands for Polly Reed (1818-1881), an eldress at Mount Lebanon, and "C.H." stands for Caroline Helfrich (1836-1929) of Hancock.
Unknown
