Towel scarf c. 19th century

This Towel Scarf at the Minneapolis Institute of Art was made with cotton, and decorated with embroidery. It is the product of extensive handwork. Look closely, and you will see the complex arrangements of stitches. The cotton would have provided a readily available, relatively inexpensive ground for the decoration. However, the embroidery elevates the cloth to something far more precious. The anonymous maker would have been highly skilled in manipulating thread to create these patterns. The process involves significant time and labor, especially when we consider that each stitch is placed individually. The finished object is an example of the intense, slow labor that precedes mass production. Considering the social context in which this scarf was made, we can see how the value of the towel scarf lies in its material, its making, and the labor involved in its production, highlighting the rich history of craft traditions alongside fine art.