AMERICAN LINEN PLAIN-WEAVE HAND TOWELS / SHOW TOWELS, LOT OF TWO, with cotton and silk cross-stitch embroidery, each rectangular, one with folded and knitted hand-made ric-rac that joins a hand-knitted, scalloped fringe along the bottom, folded plain-weave tape stitched at the corners along the top to form hang tabs; top design featuring central flowers in an urn, flanked by initials "MS" and date "1845", flanked by eight-pointed stars, above two large geometric floral designs (most is missing), and four other flowering motifs and another eight-pointed star flanking or below the large geometric designs; single plain linen panel, darned open-work panel with applied fringe, two linen hanging tabs sewn at the top corners; darned panel having design featuring three diamond shapes flanked by two stars, embroidered hearts with a tree at the top; embroidered "M L 1809". One associated with Montgomery Co., Perkiomen area of Pennsylvania. First half 19th century. 41 1/2" x 16 1/4" and 45 1/2" x 13 1/2" OA.
One in very good condition with some bleeding of black dye on threads, both with overall toning, and one with moderate losses to embroidery design.
Provenance: From the Allentown Art Museum to benefit future acquisitions for the Museum's textile collection.
Catalogue Note: The towel with the "MS" initials is associated with one remaining in the collection of the Allentown Art Museum, Accession number 1992.002.002, made by the artist Mary Seipel. Additional notes state that the family was originally from Palatinate area of southern Germany and settled in Montgomery Co., Perkiomen area.

One in very good condition with some bleeding of black dye on threads, both with overall toning, and one with moderate losses to embroidery design.