Early 20th Century American Modernist Sewing Card Album
By: Anonymous
Date: Late 19th/Early 20th Century
Dimensions: Cards each 4.75 x 3.75 inches (12 x 9.5 cm), pages each 11 x 9 inches (28 x 22.75 cm), album binding 11.25 x 9.25 inches (28.5 x 23.5 cm)
An extremely unusual and large archive of 78 sewing cards dating to the late 19th or early 20th century. These cards are mounted across 21 pages with the original binding reading "Sewing Cards" in gilded lettering on the cover.
The patterns on these sewing cards, all stitched with a consistent sand-gradient thread, bring to mind a wide range of geometric influences. These include designs reminiscent of Hopi beadwork and echoes of Moorish aesthetics, each imbued with a distinct cultural resonance. Several of the cards, with their balanced and structured forms, are strikingly similar to the grid-based paintings of Agnes Martin, though created much earlier than her time. Other cards, arranged with squares in various formations, seem to anticipate the geometric abstractions of Anni and Josef Albers, although these too were likely completed long before either artist gained prominence.
In addition to these abstract references, there are eight cards that diverge into more playful and figurative territory. Among them are whimsical images, such as a cat with exaggerated, bulging eyes and a stack of shapes that creates a tower-like composition. These playful depictions add a sense of lightheartedness and contrast to the otherwise methodical and geometric patterns, enriching the collection with a blend of both abstract and pictorial creativity. The overall variety in design hints at a deep intersection of cultural motifs, artistic foresight, and imaginative expression, all conveyed through the medium of sewing cards.
Sewing cards were educational tools popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, designed to teach children, particularly girls, basic sewing skills such as hand-eye coordination and fine motor control. Typically made from thick paper or cardboard, these cards featured printed illustrations and pre-punched holes through which children could thread yarn or string using a blunt needle. The cards often depicted simple shapes, animals, or patterns, making them engaging for young learners while providing a hands-on introduction to stitching. Beyond their practical instructional use, sewing cards also reflected a broader trend of using toys to impart practical skills, preparing children for more advanced needlework and creative activities as they grew older.
Condition: Pages separate from original binding with some pages bound together in groups of 2-5 with archival tape. Cards themselves in very good overall condition, each with toning. Mounts in fragile overall condition with general toning, edge wear, and chipping to the edges of most pages.
Inventory #92224
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