Linen Press
17th century
Brooklyn Museum photograph
Caption
Linen Press, 17th century. Oak, 76 3/4 x 27 13/16 x 23 5/8 in. (195 x 70.6 x 60 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brookyln Museum Collection, 12.877. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Collection
Collection
Title
Linen Press
Date
17th century
Medium
Oak
Classification
Dimensions
76 3/4 x 27 13/16 x 23 5/8 in. (195 x 70.6 x 60 cm)
Credit Line
Brookyln Museum Collection
Accession Number
12.877
Frequent Art Questions
Hi! We are wondering what this is.
This is a 17th-century Dutch linen press. Table and bed linens were prized possessions in households like this one. They would most likely have been imported and were quite costly. If you'd like to see the linen press "in action," take a look at the video screen nearby. You'll see Museum staff operating it.What is this?
That is a 17th century Dutch linen press. In this period, textiles had to be woven by hand and so they were prized possessions. Dutch families would have taken very good care of their linens, which were pressed, folded and stored neatly in large kas cabinets, like the one in the next room. If you look at 17th century Dutch still life paintings, you will often see the inclusion of crisp, white linens. The museum has recorded a video of the press in use!
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