Carding Collection

Scenes of peasant working life, Ireland
These illustrations show women and men engaged in activities such as carding wool, spinning, sowing, threshing, minnowing and scutching

Spinning Harris Tweed
Production of Harris Tweed. The wool is carded and spun; carding loosens the wool and ensure it is fine enough to spin

Cotton Carding Machinery
Interior of cotton mill: girls and women tend carding, drawing and roving machinery

A carding engine, 1850
3480151 A carding engine, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a carding engine. Carding is the process that disentangles; cleans; and intermixes the woollen fibres)

Carding Cotton, 1866
3479125 Carding Cotton, 1866; (add.info.: Carding cotton: view of drum covered spirally with wire 'cards' known as the 'doffer'. Dated 1866.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Carding Cotton, c.1754
3478965 Carding Cotton, c.1754; (add.info.: Carding cotton. The fibres are separated and then assembled into a loose strands. c1754.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Principle of the carding engine, 1845
3479126 Principle of the carding engine, 1845; (add.info.: Principle of the carding engine: revolving drum covered with wire teeth, the top covered with concave frame with similar teeth)

A carding engine, 1850
3480150 A carding engine, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a carding engine. Carding is the process that disentangles; cleans; and intermixes the woollen fibres)

Cotton carding machine, 1865
3479135 Cotton carding machine, 1865; (add.info.: Cotton carding machine, from James Wylde. London, dated 1865.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Cotton carding engine, 1866
3479130 Cotton carding engine, 1866; (add.info.: Cotton carding engine: this machine brushed and separated the cotton fibres. London, dated 1866.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Sectional view of a carding engine, 1866
3479124 Sectional view of a carding engine, 1866; (add.info.: Sectional view of a carding engine: this machine brushed and separated the cotton fibres. Dated 1866.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Carding engine, 1845
3479127 Carding engine, 1845; (add.info.: Carding engine incorporating an early improvement which brought off carded cotton in a continuous sliver)

Adult 'hand' with boy assistant working cotton, 1845 (engraving)
533903 Adult 'hand' with boy assistant working cotton, 1845 (engraving); (add.info.: Forming cotton into 'laps' so that it could be put into the carding machine in a uniform amounts)

Wool carding engine, 1851
3479133 Wool carding engine, 1851; (add.info.: Detailed view of the Cotton Carding. Used to create a single - long strand of material, rather than clumps. machine)

Hand spinning, carding and roving, 1848
3479121 Hand spinning, carding and roving, 1848; (add.info.: Hand spinning, carding and roving. The wire 'cards' or 'combs' are in the left foreground)

Wool carding engine by Davis & Furber, 1880
3479134 Wool carding engine by Davis & Furber, 1880; (add.info.: Wool carding engine by Davis & Furber, North Andover, Mass, USA. New York 1880.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Women textile workers in a cottage in Wales, 1820
3479123 Women textile workers in a cottage in Wales, 1820; (add.info.: Circa 1820. Woodcut illustration of two women textile workers in a cottage in Wales)

A Girl Carding, 1856. Creator: Kilian Christoffer Zoll
A Girl Carding, 1856

The Wool-Carder, 1855–56. Creator: Jean Francois Millet
The Wool-Carder, 1855-56

The Wool-Carder, 1855–56. Creator: Jean Francois Millet
The Wool-Carder, 1855-56

The International Exhibition - cotton manufacture: machinery of Platt Brothers, Oldham, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The International Exhibition - cotton manufacture: machinery of Platt Brothers, Oldham, 1862. Fig. 1 the Macarthy Gin; Fig. 4

Carding machines in a woollen mill in Bradford, Yorkshire, late Victorian period

Woman Carding (oil on canvas)
3742345 Woman Carding (oil on canvas) by Jorgensen, Sven (1861-1940); 80x65 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Kvinne som karder); Photo © O. Vaering

The Wool Carder, c. 1850-59 (etching)
5643006 The Wool Carder, c.1850-59 (etching) by Millet, Jean-Francois (1814-75); 25.6 x 17.3 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA; French, out of copyright

The Crofters of the Isle of Lewis, Western Hebrides (engraving)
1591590 The Crofters of the Isle of Lewis, Western Hebrides (engraving) by Almond, William Douglas (1866-1916); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Crofters of the Isle of Lewis, Western Hebrides)

Spinning cotton, a vegetable fibre of enormous use to man (b / w photo)
6008225 Spinning cotton, a vegetable fibre of enormous use to man (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Spinning cotton)

The Common Method of Beetling, Scutching and Hackling the Flax
STC110568 The Common Method of Beetling, Scutching and Hackling the Flax, plate IV of The Linen Manufactory of Ireland, 1791 (coloured litho) by Hincks

Cotton Manufacturer (engraving)
2801962 Cotton Manufacturer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cotton Manufacturer)

Maison Fontaine trade card, threshing and carding (chromolitho)
964026 Maison Fontaine trade card, threshing and carding (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Maison Fontaine trade card, threshing and carding)

The Wool Carder, c. 1856 (etching)
1067884 The Wool Carder, c.1856 (etching) by Millet, Jean-Francois (1814-75); 25.6x17.5 cm; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas, USA; (add.info.: La Cardeuse); Foundation for the Arts Collection, gift of Mr

Carding machine (engraving)
3655152 Carding machine (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Carding machine. Illustration for The Universal Instructor (Ward Lock)

Ms 1044 fol. 101 The Strong Woman of the Scriptures Spinning with her Servants
XIR192418 Ms 1044 fol.101 The Strong Woman of the Scriptures Spinning with her Servants, from Ovide Moralise written by Chretien Legouais (vellum) by French School

Indian weavers making a cashmere shawl (colour litho)
6015513 Indian weavers making a cashmere shawl (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Indian weavers making a cashmere shawl)

Ms Fr 12420 fol. 71 Tanaquil weaving, from De Claris Mulieribus
BAL51354 Ms Fr 12420 fol.71 Tanaquil weaving, from De Claris Mulieribus, from the Works of Giovanni Boccaccio, 1402 (vellum) by French School, (15th century); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

The Carder, engraved by Augrand, c. 1816 (coloured engraving)
STC444540 The Carder, engraved by Augrand, c.1816 (coloured engraving) by Busset-Dubruste, Madame G. (fl.1806-17) (attr. to); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; French, out of copyright

A young Polish spinner in the Quidwick Co. Mill. Anthony, R. I 1909 (photo)
685152 A young Polish spinner in the Quidwick Co. Mill. Anthony, R. I 1909 (photo) by Hine, Lewis Wickes (1874-1940); (add.info.: One of the young spinners in the Quidwick Co. Mill. Anthony, R. I)

Carding machines used for straightening the fibres during the weaving process (b / w photo)
6015538 Carding machines used for straightening the fibres during the weaving process (b/w photo) by English Photographer

Woman Carding Wool, (oil on canvas)
989667 Woman Carding Wool, (oil on canvas) by Millet, Jean-Francois (1814-75); 90.2x74.9 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Woman Carding Wool; La Cardeuse. Jean-Francois Millet (1814-1875)

Wool carders in Jerusalem, c. 1867-81 (b / w photo)
PEF446184 Wool carders in Jerusalem, c.1867-81 (b/w photo) by Bonfils Studio (19th century); Palestine Exploration Fund, London, UK; ePalestine Exploration Fund; French, out of copyright

A Young Girl Carding Wool (pencil on paper)
5889009 A Young Girl Carding Wool (pencil on paper) by Landseer, Edwin (1802-73); 11.4x7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Inscribed To Mr Parker verso.); Photo eThe Ms Gallery, London; English

Carding and Winding Hemp at Ploermel, Brittany (engraving)
1604827 Carding and Winding Hemp at Ploermel, Brittany (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Carding and Winding Hemp at Ploermel, Brittany)

A Prehistoric British Boat recently discovered near Glastonbury (litho)
1047728 A Prehistoric British Boat recently discovered near Glastonbury (litho) by Macquoid, Percy (1852-1925); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Wool Carder, ca. 1855-56. Creator: Jean Francois Millet
The Wool Carder, ca. 1855-56

CARDING WOOL / 1848
Hand carding wool in a cottage in Scotland. Date: 1848

CARDING WOOL, SCOTLAND
A Scotswoman in her cottage cards wool, preparatory to spinning it into thread Date: 1848

Cotton Carding Machinery
Interior of cotton mill: girls and women tend carding, drawing and roving machinery. Date: 1835

Cotton manufacture, c1845. An adult hand with a boy assistant, forming cotton into laps so that it could be put into the carding machine in a uniform amounts

The Combing Work, c1750(?). Textile workers combing or carding wool

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"Unveiling the Art of Carding: A Glimpse into Ireland's Peasant Working Life" Step into the enchanting world of Ireland's peasant working life, where scenes of labor and craftsmanship unfold. Amongst these captivating moments, carding takes center stage - a skillful process that breathes life into textiles. In the picturesque countryside, we witness artisans spinning Harris Tweed with unwavering dedication. Their nimble fingers dance across the fibers, meticulously aligning them to create a fabric renowned for its durability and elegance. Venturing further, we encounter cotton carding machinery in action within woollen mills nestled in Bradford. These mechanical marvels tirelessly perform their rhythmic dance as they transform raw cotton into soft strands ready for weaving. Artistic expressions also pay homage to this ancient craft. "Woman Carding, " an oil on canvas masterpiece, captures the grace and concentration exuded by those who wielded this essential tool. Similarly, "The Wool Carder, " an etching from c. 1850-59, immortalizes the delicate artistry involved in preparing wool for textile production. Beyond Ireland's shores lies The Isle of Lewis in Western Hebrides - home to hardworking crofters whose hands deftly manipulate carding machines amidst breathtaking landscapes. An engraving aptly titled "The Crofters of the Isle of Lewis" transports us to their world; a testament to their resilience and commitment towards preserving traditional practices. Carding extends beyond fabrics alone; it embraces other natural fibers like flax and cotton too. Through a mesmerizing black-and-white photograph entitled "Spinning Cotton, " we appreciate how this versatile vegetable fiber has revolutionized industries worldwide. Witness yet another facet through historical engravings depicting beetling, scutching, and hackling flax - methods integral to linen production that have stood the test of time.