Online Exhibition Opening – “Right Under Your Nose: Children’s Printed Textiles from the Collection of JJ Murphy and Nancy Mladenoff”

Right Under Your Nose: Children’s Printed Textiles from the Collection of JJ Murphy and Nancy Mladenoff highlights 21 of the playful, colorful and didactic handkerchiefs from the newly acquired and fascinating collection of more than 3,200. Motifs include insects, alphabets, circus clowns, shadow puppets, the solar system, and a lumberjack beaver printed on cotton handkerchiefs manufactured for children between the 18th and 20th centuries.

These intimate, everyday objects taught lessons, instilled predominant social and cultural standards, and sometimes even inspired a giggle while providing soothing relief for a runny nose. Close examination of these objects reveals technological innovations in manufacturing, shifts in understandings of children and the idea of childhood, the development of ideas like nationalism and cultural identity, the evolution of gender norms and racial stereotypes, and more.

Explore the Online Exhibition on January 18th at https://shelburnemuseum.org/online-exhibitions/