Images(5)

Blanket

Object number2017.28.3 a,b

Manufacturer DuPont

Retailer Gimbel Brothers

Date1971

OriginScotland

MediumOrlon (acrylic fiber); Fabric; Paper; Ink; String

Credit LineGift of Dena Dortenzo Walzl

DescriptionBaptismal baby blanket with string tag. Rounded rectangular white crochet blanket. Central rectangle of design consists of alternating wide and narrow zigzag rows; this is surrounded by rectangular border; which is then surrounded by a lacy border.DimensionsLength x Width x Depth (a): 48.25 × 40.25 × 0.125 in. (122.6 × 102.2 × 0.3 cm)
Height x Width (b - tag): 2.125 × 2.25 in. (5.4 × 5.7 cm)
Length (b - string): 5.375 in. (13.7 cm)
Inscriptions(b)
Handwritten graphite note on each side "656/0".
Marks(a)
White fabric tag sewn to one corner of the central rectangular design; tag has blue embroidered text "MADE IN SCOTLAND / EXPRESSLY FOR / GIMBELS / 100% ORLON ACRYLIC".

(b)
Both sides have black and red-orange printed text:
One side has text including "STYLED FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY / Orlon* / ...complies / with standards of good design / recommended by a committee of / health experts appointed to advise / Du Pont on babies' wear."
and other side has text including "[care instructions] / Orlon* / *ORLON is Du Pont's registered / trade mark for its acrylic fibre / [fiber description]".
Historical NotesBaby blanket used during the christening of Dena Dortenzo. Dena spent her childhood in the predominately Italian American neighborhood of Bloomfield in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was baptized in July of 1971 and received her First Communion on Saturday, May 5, 1979, with her second grade class, both at the Immaculate Conception Church in Bloomfield. She attended grade school at Immaculate Conception. Dena noted that attending Immaculate Conception, where the congregation was made up of first and second generation Italian Americans, many of their Catholic traditions were brought over from Italy.

Previous owner Dena Dortenzo Walzl

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