Andrew S. Norwood, stated that he would sell 

 "Cheap for Cash . . . Brussels Carpeting." 



Most of the types of floor coverings already men- 

 tioned were stocked by Norwood at his "Carpet 

 Store" which was opened in 1799 according to an 

 advertisement in the New-York Gazette and General 

 Advertiser on May 22. A listing of the goods for sale 

 included "Brussels and Wilton Carpeting and Carpets 

 of all sizes from 3-2 by 4 up to 6-)4 by l)^ yds. 

 striped Brussels carpeting for Stairs and Entries." 



As with other woven carpeting, Brussels was made 

 in narrow strips, probably of 27- or 36-inch widths, 

 which necessitated the joining of several pieces to 

 make a carpet. Based on this advertisement, it 

 appears that both Brussels and Wilton were woven in 

 the same widths and were made into carpets of 

 similar dimensions. This apparent identity in sizes 

 for carpeting and room carpets suggests that there also 

 may have been a similar relationship in the measure- 

 ments of stair carpeting of the two types. Most 

 likely the width of the "Brussels carpeting for Stairs 

 and Entries" was slightly under or over a yard, a 

 size that could be woven in one piece and would 

 provide adequate covering for most stairs. 



Besides providing information about the dimensions 

 of Brussels floor coverings, Norwood's advertisement 

 reveals that the loop-pile carpeting was made with 

 striped patterns in addition to the already mentioned 

 "newest landscape and other elegant patterns." 

 Whether the stripes were horizontal or vertical is 

 not known, but the advertisement leaves little doubt 

 that Brussels with striped patterns were intended for 

 entryways and staircases. Presumably landscape 

 and floral patterns were used in parlors or front rooms. 



Although Brussels carpets and carpeting were being 

 sold in the larger coastal cities by the latter part of 

 the 18th century, according to the sources studied, 

 they do not seem to have had the same popularity as 

 Wiltons in this country. Nevertheless, the fact that 

 Mrs. Margaret Bceckman Livingston, mistress of 

 "Clermont," the Livingston manor house in New 

 York, purchased "Thirty six yards of Broussells carpett 

 with border," valued at £36 according to her house- 

 hold account book, is an indication that this type of 

 floor covering was considered fashionable and its 

 qualities appreciated in the 18th century.*^ This is 



«2 Helen Evertson .Smith, Colonial Days and Ways as Gathered 

 From Family Papers (New York: The Century Co 1900) 

 p. 204. 



Portrait of Mary Warner 



by John Singleton Copley, 1767 



{Courtesy of The Toledo Museum of Art, gift oj Florence 



Scott Libbey, 1950.) 



Figure 17. — The colors of this elaborately patterned 

 carpet are predominately deep red, white, and a 

 soft dark blue, with touches of yellow and black. 

 The floor covering, the richly tasseled squab or 

 cushion on which young Mary is kneeling, and the 

 tastefully upholstered chair suggest that the Warner 

 house was handsomely and comfortably furnished. 



further verified by Aaron Burr's use of Brussels carpets 

 at "Richmond Hill." The floor in the dining room as 

 well as the breakfast room was covered with "Brussels 

 Carpet" according to the 1797 inventory of furniture. 

 And Brussels appears to have been the stylish floor 

 covering during the early 19th century because it was 

 the choice for the White House, first by John Adams 

 and then by Thomas Jefi'erson. As the first resi- 

 dents of the E.xecutive Mansion, President and Mrs. 

 John Adams lived there for only a brief four months. 

 Nevertheless, the "Inventory of the Furniture in the 

 President's House, the property of the Lhiited States, 

 taken February 26th 1801," previously cited, indicates 

 that both the public and private rooms had been 

 furnished, including floor coverings, in that short 



36 



BULLETIN 2 50 : CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 



