Curtain tie-back
Tassel
Maker & role
Unknown, Maker
Production date
circa 1850
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Object detail
Production place
Measurements
L: 34.5 x W: 10cm (L: 345 x W: 100mm)
Credit line
Purchase, with assistance of Members of the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, 2008
Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Caption
Bed tassel, c1850
Description
These curtain tie-backs are made from cotton and are believed to come from England, dating to around 1850. They are part of a collection of trimmings held by the Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection known as 'passementerie'.
A tassel is primarily an ornament, attached for decoration to soft furnishings. Initially the knotted termination of a cord was used to prevent unravelling, with variations developing over time. Passementerie – from the early French word passment, meaning lace, is the art of making elaborate trimmings or edgings such as tassels, applied braid, cord, embroidery, coloured silk, or beads for clothing or furnishings.
The tie-back cords are each composed of Lucet cord, a square and slightly springy cord formed by a series of loop like knots that do not unravel if cut.
The cord are finished with a pair of tassels. The tassel heads comprise 3 ball forms wrapped in thread and decorated with knotted threadwork which forms a netted effect.
The tassel skirts comprise 6 lengths of doubled thread with 5 tusted cotton pom-poms strung on each.
A tassel is primarily an ornament, attached for decoration to soft furnishings. Initially the knotted termination of a cord was used to prevent unravelling, with variations developing over time. Passementerie – from the early French word passment, meaning lace, is the art of making elaborate trimmings or edgings such as tassels, applied braid, cord, embroidery, coloured silk, or beads for clothing or furnishings.
The tie-back cords are each composed of Lucet cord, a square and slightly springy cord formed by a series of loop like knots that do not unravel if cut.
The cord are finished with a pair of tassels. The tassel heads comprise 3 ball forms wrapped in thread and decorated with knotted threadwork which forms a netted effect.
The tassel skirts comprise 6 lengths of doubled thread with 5 tusted cotton pom-poms strung on each.
Accession number
L2008/37-1:3
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