Номер объекта
74/131/32
Описание
A brass stair rod, used as a knitting needle to knit binder twine gathered from the fields into doormats which were then backed with hessian. The needle is part of the Hemeon Collection of rug-making tools and thrift rugs.
Архивная история
MERL Catalogue Form (temporary) – ‘Object name: Needles, brass, sample // Other name: (STAIR RODS) // … // Notes: These two brass stair-rods have been improvised as knitting needles – used for knitting string backs for the thrift rugs.’, Letter, Fay E. Slatter to M. F. Hemeon, Feb 1971 – ‘My mother when quite elderly used to collect binder twine from the fields. Knit into door mats with brass stair rods. They were backed with hessian. Proved to be hard wearing, of great advantage also, they were washable.’, MERL Miscellaneous Note, Greta Bertram, 10 December 2013 – The Hemeon Collection of rug-making tools and thrift rugs (74/131/1–74) was put together by Maidie F. Hemeon. Mrs Hemeon was interested in the tradition of ‘thrift’ rugs – rugs made using old fabrics and home-made or home-adapted tools. This type of rug has many names, including ‘rag’, ‘proddie’, ‘peggie’, ‘hooky’, ‘proggy’, ‘clippy’ and ‘bodgy’ rug. These rugs became widespread during the Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth century, but by the 1920s the craft was dying out except in areas of poverty or where tradition had a stronger hold. The necessity for thrift during World War II brought a brief revival, but it did not last long. Mrs Hemeon published a letter in the June 1970 edition of the Women’s Institute ‘Home & Country’ magazine in which she expressed her ambition to trace and preserve all the tools used in the craft before it was industrialised. She hoped to build up a display of samples, materials, tools and coloured photos of finished work in use, for demonstration, exhibition and educational purposes, and to simulate interest in making rag rugs as a living craft rather than as the remains of a dead one. She received many donations in response to the article, and in due course the collection came to MERL. It is likely that some of the samples in the collection were made by Mrs Hemeon. Further information can be found in the MERL Archives, D79/31.
Наименование