Drool Bib c. mid 19th century

This is a Drool Bib of unknown date, made by an anonymous maker. Looking at this bib, you might be struck by the immaculate quilting and delicate scalloped edge. In fact, this bib is just one example of the many textiles crafted by women throughout history. These objects represent an important tradition of domestic craft, a crucial form of labor that is often overlooked in social histories of the past. The bib’s whiteness evokes purity and cleanliness, values that were often associated with women’s domestic roles. Objects like this bib invite us to reconsider the value we place on different kinds of work, and the way that gender and class shape our understanding of art and labor. Social and cultural historians often look to census records, diaries, and advertisements to understand the context in which such objects were made and used.