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Piano Recital 

 (?) English, about 1800 

 (Courtesy of Colonel and Mrs. Edgar IT. Garbisch.) 



Figure 28. — The floor covering seen in this informal study of a musical recital — the instrument is believed to be 

 a spinet or possibly a harpsichord — has a floral pattern of red roses with dark-green leaves arranged in rows 

 on a light-green background. Numerous pictures in a variety of sizes are hung quite high, according to the 

 fashion of the day, on the green walls that are edged with floral designs around the chair rail, door, and 

 cornice. 



value was sufficient for them, on occasion, to be 

 purloined and for their owners to advertise for their 

 recovery. For instance, a Boston businessman in 1 752 

 advertised that he had had "taken ofTa Shop Window, 

 2 small English Carpets for Bed sides." A reward of 

 three dollars was oflfered for "a Turkey carpet," 

 stolen out of a house in 1755. In the South as in tlie 

 North appeared similar advertisertients such as this 

 one in the Virginia Gazette of May 9, 1771. "SOME 

 Time last Fall a CARPET was left at my House . . . 

 the Size of it about eleven Feet by ten, which the 

 Owner may have by proving his Property and pacing 

 for this Advertisement." 



Such evidence, as well as letters, inventories, and 

 diaries, suggests that carpets were scarce. This 



condition continued well through the 18th century, 

 even after their established use as floor coverings 

 rather than as ornamental pieces for tables and cup- 

 boards. 



Of course most carpets were obtained by more 

 orthodox means than theft. Their purchase by 

 Americans with means is a reflection of the value 

 placed on fioor coverings in the 18th century. This 

 is further reflected in the attention given to the selec- 

 tion and placement of carpets by notable Americans 

 such as Franklin, Washington, JcfTerson, and Abigail 

 Adams. The inclusion of floor co\crings in portraits 

 implying pride of ownership as well as status also has 

 been pointed out. Perhaps the best indication that 

 carpets were highly^ prized is that a young and newly 



PAPER 5 9 : FLOOR COVERINGS IN 1 8TH-CENTURY AMERICA 



59 



