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(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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This head cloth from a set of bed hangings was completed in 1765 by Rebekah Dickinson (1738-1813) and Polly Wright of Hatfield, Massachusetts. Embroidered textiles like this one were enormously popular among 18th century women; originally inspired by the vibrant fabrics English traders brought back from the Far East. The cascading vines, flowers, leaves, birds, animals and other motifs common in these works allowed them to display their technical skills and artistic sensibilities, as welll as their ability to devote time to their completion. Women embroidered pockets, petticoats and chair seats as well. Though Rebekah was a formally trained maker of women's clothing none of the garments she created are known to survive: instead, her family preserved several examples of her ornamental needlework.

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