Describing Circular Embroidering & Ornamenting Machine for Rug Patterns

Published by E. S. Frost & Co.'s Turkish Rug Patterns, Boston, MA, 1881

About this Item

An advertising booklet for E. S. Frost & Co.'s Turkish Rug Patterns which starts out by promoting the employment options involved to all persons, men, women and children, in the field of rug making. Men can become official agents of the company selling patterns and supposedly can earn enough that they can hire children to help sell the patterns. By doing this the children are reportedly able to make up to two dollars every day after school. Women on the other hand, after purchasing the patterns, can make and sell the rugs themselves. The patterns are meant to imitate the Turkish Rugs, that were becoming exceedingly popular, but rather expensive. The booklet provides a brief description of how to make the rugs using their patterns, as well as supplies you will need to make the rugs. The tools needed to do so, a rug hook and yarn, are also sold by the company. The booklet then describes the 132 rug patterns they sell. Each pattern has a description of the design of the rug itself, size of the rug made, and cost of the pattern. One of the company's main selling points for their patterns was that the patterns were printed on cloth not paper, like other patterns of the time. Additionally patterns for slippers or ottomans. Concludes with testimonials from people who have sold the rugs, as well as information on the Bronze Metal the company won at the 1878 American Institute Fair of New York and the Diploma given to them by the 1878 Mechanics Fair Boston. There are several black and white images throughout, including two rug designs: one a standard oriental design, and the second of large lion. The front cover has a black and white images of a women in a white dress sitting and embroidering a rug which has been stretched out on a wooden frame and is leaning against a table. This image is enclosed in a decorative border which looks like a wooden frame held together with slim nails. The back cover has a black and white engraving of a women in black dress sitting and embroidering a rug that has been set within a standing wooden frame. . binding. OCLC 0 (July 2020). Measures 5" x 3 3/4" E. S. Frost & Co.'s Turkish Rug Patterns was founded by Edward Sands Frost. He was original a tin peddler who started his company in Biddeford, ME, in 1868 by creating zinc stencils to transfer rug designs to burlap. He sold his company in 1876 due to ill health to James A. Strout, who kept the business running until the early 1900s when interest in the designs waned. Afterward the Newbury Yarn Company continued to sell Frost's designs well into the 1930s. 24 unnumbered pgs. Illustrated covers. Covers detached. Generalized toning and soiling. Loose binding, and several detached interior pages. Seller Inventory # 29008245

Bibliographic Details

Title: Describing Circular Embroidering & ...

Publisher: E. S. Frost & Co.'s Turkish Rug Patterns, Boston, MA

Publication Date: 1881