C. 1900 Brainerd & Armstrong Knitting Silk Thread Color Sample Board victorian shoe ornament Perfect for carrying swimming goggles

Perfect for carrying swimming goggles

Falling in love with this old sign led me to learn about the history IGA markets

(a firm owned by him and his brothers)

and for me there is something very special feeling about these that comes through the combination of simple geometry + strong color + hand-stitched linen + knotted ties on wooden posts + utilitarian function + many years of use and exposure to the elements

C. 1900 Brainerd & Armstrong Knitting Silk Thread Color Sample Board victorian shoe ornament Perfect for carrying swimming gogglesI believe this three panel Brainerd and Armstrong thread sample folio showing the "best selling shades" of knitting silk dates to right around 1900, and it remains in excellent condition. I'll never get over the beauty of sample cards like this, which to me are really all about the packaging and delivery of color here 73 samples of different shades. I don't believe the fourth column shows loss of thread as there are no numbered labels there; the