Schort of boerenschort van zwarte wol met geruit bovenstuk en band c. 1910

Curator: Here we have a "Schort of boerenschort van zwarte wol met geruit bovenstuk en band"—that’s "Apron or farmer's apron of black wool with checkered top and waistband," dating back to approximately 1910. The artisan's name we believe is P. Titjen-Baas. What strikes you first? Editor: The texture. The wool looks incredibly dense, almost sculptural. It radiates a certain solemn dignity; like it absorbed all the hardships, like a black hole pulling everything around it in... it pulls me right in. Curator: Indeed. Think of the material properties: the coarse, unprocessed wool offering robust protection, while the checkered top presents a contrast through its likely finer weave. Consider the labor: Shearing, carding, spinning, weaving. Who performed those steps? Was it P. Titjen-Baas? Or multiple artisans in a regional cottage industry? Editor: Ah, now that you point that out! The waistband suddenly suggests domesticity to me, perhaps woven on a simpler loom at home... Imagine a moment's break from hard labor, a wife quickly crafting in between the other countless things a farmer’s life in that era needed tending to... The geometry of it... it seems so intentional; the checkerboard a bold little act of optimism...or a reminder that behind any apron strings is, well...someone to mess with? Curator: Certainly, we can speculate on intentions and readings, but the facts lie in the structure of the garment. Notice the utilitarian closures on the belt that allowed for adjustments in size...indicative that labor, function, and duration of ownership, were all very important in this time period. Editor: It's amazing how such a seemingly humble piece can whisper so much, can’t it? That stark visual separation created by these contrasting textures invites us into two different stories contained within the single garment...or perhaps just shows one full life? Curator: Ultimately, objects like this are potent anchors, revealing the intimate connection between our daily lives and the larger economic forces that have shaped us. It’s always there if we just investigate. Editor: I have never thought that an old apron would provide such great meditation. Thanks!