Tablecloth c. 18th century

Editor: This is an 18th-century Tablecloth from an anonymous maker, and it's on display here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Made of textile using weaving and fibre art techniques, it seems like such a simple thing, but the detail of the weave and the fringe is beautiful. How do you read this piece? Curator: For me, the real story here lies in the materiality of this object, the labor embedded within. Consider the raw materials – likely linen or cotton in this case – where did they originate? Who cultivated and processed them? This seemingly simple tablecloth represents an entire network of production and consumption. Editor: So, it's less about aesthetics and more about understanding its journey, its creation? Curator: Precisely. Think about the weaver, likely a skilled artisan. What was their social status? Were they part of a cottage industry, or working under a more formalized guild system? Each thread tells a silent narrative about the hands that shaped it. And of course, it's about the dinner tables in which it had served on. Who was consuming, and producing in turn. Editor: That really shifts my perspective. I hadn't considered the economic and social implications woven directly into the cloth itself. It brings such an intimate element of eighteenth-century lives. Curator: Absolutely. And it challenges us to re-evaluate the hierarchy between "high art" and "craft." This is not just a functional object; it's a testament to human ingenuity and a valuable historical artifact offering insights into the socio-economic conditions of its time. Now can you imagine where else we might consider labour that’s ‘hidden in plain sight’ around the museum? Editor: That's a really great question to ponder. Looking at art in terms of production and labour definitely makes it come alive. Curator: Agreed. Now that we’ve discussed materials, hopefully that shifts the narrative to what is considered valuable in museums.