Pillow border c. 19th century

Curator: Just in view here we have a 19th-century textile simply named "Pillow border," now residing in the Minneapolis Institute of Art and crafted by an anonymous artist. Editor: The color is so striking. I'm immediately drawn to this rich, deep burgundy that makes the geometric shapes stand out against the unbleached cotton. It speaks to a dedication of labor, the precision necessary for stitching. Curator: Indeed, there is a symbolic language in the repeated motifs. The lozenge patterns are particularly potent, representing fertility or even the earthly realm. Each element contributes to the textile's storytelling potential, alluding to cultural traditions. Editor: When I consider that this pillow border comes to us from the 19th century, my mind starts wandering about access. Cotton production involved highly exploitative processes in the United States. Even the color--how did the craftsperson come to obtain dye for such a dark, lasting pigment? Curator: A fair question. Dyes would have carried symbolic meaning, and sourcing practices held cultural significance. Pigments often held close associations with specific geographies, histories and traditional usages within the region. Editor: The care implied in that detailed work on humbler, quotidian objects like pillow borders strikes me. Everyday life has been considered craft throughout much of recorded history, and these forms of domestic production serve to communicate what aspects of material life held most symbolic value for any given craftsperson or population. Curator: You raise a very good point about "everyday life" here. And you see the textile now in a much broader context... How powerful it becomes once we consider its symbolic value! Editor: Yes, absolutely. And now I see even more acutely the material choices as a critical piece of cultural and production history. Curator: Exactly, now this pillow border has sparked such interesting, insightful connections. Editor: Yes, an important and surprisingly complex object once we unpack those material details!