For more than fifty years, A.C. Cazenove and his family sold dry goods and other merchandise in Alexandria. The shop was located on Prince Street in 1798, Fairfax Street in 1800, the corner of King and Alfred by 1816, and King Street near Union by 1834. Although dry goods (cloth) were always a major portion of the stock, Cazenove's sold a wide variety of products. The first Alexandria Gazette advertisements in 1798 list watches, jewelry, gloves, ostrich feathers and beads, as well as a piano and a mare. In the 1820's and 1830's the stock included such commodities as tea, sugar, salt, corn meal and butter.

The Cazenove's and their contemporaries advertised seasonal goods each spring and fall. Advertisements included detailed lists of the cloth and clothing items for sale, with their country origin specified. A.C. Cazenove offered fall goods from Liverpool in 1816. Five years later, he had on hand American, British, German and Indian goods. Domestic cotton goods became an important product by the 1830's, as power looms and calico printing became widespread.

The excavation of privies on the 500 block of King Street in 1977 produced an important collection of 19th century textiles. Some ribbons and small clothing items were recovered, but most cloth was torn as rags. Silk and wool textiles were preserved in the wet soil; however, cotton and linen did not survive. Printed and woven patterns remained clear, although colors faded.

Lead bale seals, found at other King Street sites, were affixed by cloth manufacturers or merchants in England to attest to the quality, size or origin of the cloth.

A 19th century silk glove, frame knitted with rolled edges and hand-sewn seams.