Servet van linnen met pellenpatroon 1888 - 1894

This linen napkin with a ‘pellenpatroon’, or scale pattern, was woven by Ch. Stoop & Cie. Napkins like this one speak to the complex dynamics of domestic labor and social class. They were often used in households where maintaining a polished image was paramount. In that setting, the labor of maintaining these pristine items often fell to women and domestic servants, whose work was essential but often unacknowledged. The whiteness of the linen becomes a symbol of cleanliness and purity, yet it conceals the labor required to achieve and maintain that appearance. The geometric pattern, meticulously woven, adds another layer of meaning. It suggests order and control, mirroring the structured social hierarchies of the time. But, it also offers an aesthetic pleasure. It invites us to consider how everyday objects can embody both beauty and the subtle traces of social inequalities.