May 3, 1987
By Susan J. Dehler
Vigo County Historical Society
Feather duster days
Plumes early cleaning device
Dust and dirt are menaces to contemporary house cleaners, but housewives of the 19th century had much more to contend with. A house closed up during long winter months kept the heat in, but also accumulated quite a bit of grease and grime from chimney soot and lamp oil.
Traditional spring house cleaning brought out a bevy of cleaning items--buckets, brooms, brushes and dust pans. One home economist noted: “It breaks women’s backs and causes men to break the Ten Commandments.” Which commandments, she didn’t say.
The peacock feather duster on display in the museum seems quite a contrast to other cleaning aids. For the middle-class household, the colorful plumes made more of a decorative piece than a practical cleaning tool.
The feather duster wiped daily surface dust off knickknacks, lamps and tables. But often carpets and other furniture suffered--the dust merely shifted from one place in the room to another. Still the feathers were considered to be exotic and fashionable.
The peacock has been a domesticated, ornamental bird for more than 2,000 years. Accustomed to hot, steamy climates, the blue or Indian peacock is a native of India and Sri Lanka. However, blue peacocks are quite adaptable to temperatures below zero and can survive northern winters. Hence, these birds have been introduced and reared worldwide.
In the early 1900s the traffic peacock skins and feathers was heavy. One English firm was known to import 70,000 bundles of plumes in a single week. It was the male peacock’s train which was so attractive to buyers. Each feather is tipped with an iridescent “eye” (orelli) ringed with blue and bronze. Feathers were in great demand for fashion and home decor.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.