Accession Number

988.014.002

Alternate Name

towel bar; clothes bar

Description

A shield-shaped (43H X 22.3W) wood and metal towel-drying rack, the backing board folds in half with a metal rod and screws at each side, top back designed to be attached to a wall and a brass mechanism with a hook and eye hold the two pieces in a L-like configuration, with eight (originally nine, one is missing), long tapered wooden (fir) rods, each one 98.2L X 1.3W X 2H, attached in a fan formation to a V-shaped piece of nickel plated angle iron attached to the back board, rods can project and fan outwards to hang textiles and then fold into a bundle for storage against a wall surface, the patent date "PAT MARCH 17 1891" stamped into the angle iron.

Narrative

Nineteenth Century trade catalogues illustrate similar examples in which clothes and towels are hanging from their rods.  This object was collected for display in Craigdarroch's kitchen or pantry.

History of Use

Unknown. The rack was purchased by the donor at a Victoria, BC antique store prior to 1988.

Date

circa 1895

Dimensions

2 x 134 cm

Material

Wood, fir

Technique

Machined; Electroplated

Inscription

PAT MARCH 17 1891