RevolutionCrossroads/si_us_revolutionary_era_collections huggingface dataset:
Geometric Double-cloth "Snowball Tree" Coverlet, 1800-1850
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet, geometric
date made: 1800-1850
maker: unknown
place made: United States
Physical Description: double weave (overall production method/technique)
cotton and wool (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 92 1/2 in x 82 in; 234.95 cm x 208.28 cm
Credit line: Gift of Dr. Clara Southmayd Ludlow
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: This blue and white double-woven coverlet features a "Snowball Tree" central field motif, with wavy line borders on three sides. It was woven with cotton and wool yarns, and has a fringe on all four sides. The lower edge has a self-fringe, while the sides have tape fringes that travel to the top edge and run along that edge for twenty-two inches. This coverlet was woven in two sections that were sewn together on each side. According to the donor, the yarn was spun and the coverlet was woven in the home of her great-grandmother (no name given.) The coverlet dates from the first half of the 19th century. Double-woven coverlets are reversible, with the dark color dominant on one side, and the light color dominante on the other. Such coverlets are complicated to weave and require two separate sets of warp and filling yarns.
Geometric Double-cloth Coverlet; Pennsylvania, 1800-1850
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet, geometric
date made: before 1850
1800-1850
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania, Oakville
Physical Description: geometric (overall style)
double weave (overall production method/technique)
cotton, wool (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 90 1/2 in x 71 in; 229.87 cm x 180.34 cm
Credit line: Gift of Miss Mary E. Kirkpatrick
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: According to the donor, this double-woven coverlet was made for a member of the Piper family who lived near Oakville, Pennsylvania. Made of cotton and wool, it's believed to have been woven before 1850. The letters “SP” are embroidered into the lower left-hand corner. The donor’s grandfather was Samuel Piper. This coverlet was woven in two sections, which were sewn together. There is a self fringe on the bottom, and a tape fringe on each side. There are twenty-five dots in each block. This coverlet is double-woven, and therefore reversible.
"Nine Snowball and Pine Tree" coverlet; geometric double-cloth; 1800-1825
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet, geometric
date made: 1800-1825
maker: unknown
place made: United States
Physical Description: geometric (overall production method/technique)
double cloth (overall production method/technique)
wool, cotton (overall material)
blue, white (overall color)
Measurements: overall: 78 in x 69 3/4 in; 198.12 cm x 177.165 cm
Credit line: Gift of Mrs. Alice K. Withers
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: This white and blue, geometric, double-cloth coverlet features a “Nine Snowball” pattern centerfield and “Pine Tree” border. These patterns were developed in the German States of the Holy Roman Empire at the end of the seventeenth century and were initially used in damask linen weaving on a much smaller scale. Several German weavers published books during the Early Modern period, and they were translated into numerous languages and this style of block weaving, as it is known, spread across Europe. Immigrant weavers brought these structures and patterns to the United States, increased the scale of the patterns, and wove them as double cloth both for coverlets and ingrain carpet. This coverlet panel was initially woven as one length, cut, folded back on itself, and seamed up the middle to create the finished coverlet. The coverlet panel measures 78 inches by 69.75 inches. The “Pine Tree” borders found along three sides were created from fractional reduction of the main block patterning. While women were fully capable of weaving overshot and summer and winter coverlets on their own simple looms, many of the geometric double loom patterns required looms with multiple shafts and are traditionally associated with male, professional weavers. There is no information about who may have woven this coverlet or where it may have come from. Double cloth requires the use of two sets of warp and weft that exchange places, binding what would otherwise be two separate pieces of plain weave fabric and creating the color contrasting design. The white cotton yarns are all 2-ply, S-twist, Z-spun and the indigo-dyed wool yarns are all 2-ply, S-twist, Z-spun as well. According to the accession file, this coverlet was woven between 1800 and 1825. The donor believes that Priscilla and Sarah Furbee, grandmother and aunt of her husband John Kinder, carded, dyed the yarn used in this coverlet, and wove it as well. See the hand written note on an envelope in the accession file.
Geometric double-cloth coverlet; 1800-1850; Pennsylvania
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet, geometric
coverlet
date made: first half 19th century
1800-1850
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania
Physical Description: geometric (overall production method/technique; pattern)
double cloth (overall production method/technique)
wool, linen (overall material)
blue, red (overall color)
indigo (overall material)
madder (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 82 in x 78 in; 208.28 cm x 198.12 cm
Credit line: Gift of Miss Mary E. Kirkpatrick
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: Landes/Hutchinson-style, geometric design with pine tree border; coverlet; double-woven; plain weave; 1800-1850, Pennsylvania. Geometric, double weave, all-wool, 2-ply, s-twist, warp and wefts, red & light and dark blue. Unsure if dyes are synthetic or natural, but knowing this information could help narrow the manufacture date range. The dyes are likely indigo and madder. The repeating, geometric pattern is similar to the Landes #42, 43, 50, 51 and 57 and Hutchinson/Landes #37, 58, and 60, with a "Pine Tree" border. The coverlet is made up of two 39" panels joined together in a matching center seam. The seam has been restitched in a 3-ply cotton. The pattern is an 11 sq. inch repeat made up of 2.75" checks containing 25 dots each. There appears to have been a fringe along the bottom left over from weaving that has worn off. The sides are left as selvedge and the top is hemmed unevenly. The border pattern repeat meausres 5.5"x7" and features 2 crossed "pine tree" corner blocks. The condition of the coverlet is good and the colors are very bright, which warrants further examination to deternine if they may be analine. There are 3 patched holes at the bottom right and bottom seam that are made from the same pattern and materials as the coverlet, possibly taken from the top? This coverlet was part of a traveling exhibition in 1975-76. This coverlet along with an another were donated in 1968. The other coverlet is linked to Miss Kirkpatrick's grandfather, Samuel Piper of Oakville, PA, and this coverlet may very well have been made by the same person or come from the same area. The style and design would indicate that it was made in Southeastern, PA.
Geometric double-cloth coverlet; 1800-1825; Pennsylvania
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet, geometric
date made: 1800-1900
19th century
1800-1825
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania
Physical Description: geometric (overall production method/technique)
double-cloth (overall production method/technique)
wool, cotton, linen (overall material)
red, white, blue (overall color)
woven (overall production method/technique)
Measurements: overall: 90 in x 89 in; 228.6 cm x 226.06 cm
fringe, bottom: 4 in; 10.16 cm
fringe, side: 3 in; 7.62 cm
Credit line: Gift of Mrs. Margaret L. Miller
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: This red, blue, and white, geometric, double-cloth coverlet features a "Snowball" center field pattern with "Diamond" border. The design is similar to those found in John Landes' pattern book No. 51. (centerfield) and No. 57 (border). It was woven circa 1800-1825 almost certainly in Pennsylvania. The coverlet also features an applied red white and blue fringe attached with 2-ply blue linen thread. It is made up of two sections which were woven as one length and seamed with a 2-ply indigo blue linen thread. Although the accession file notes that Mrs. Miller, the donor, has information on the origin of the coverlet, no such information was included in the accession file. The top edge of the coverlet has a 1" wide, red-dyed, twill woven, woolen tape attached
Summer-and-Winter Coverlet; New York; 1800-1850
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet, Summer-and-Winter
date made: 1800-1850
maker: unknown
Physical Description: Summer-and-Winter (overall production method/technique)
cotton, wool (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 92 in x 66 1/2 in; 233.68 cm x 168.91 cm
Credit line: Gift of Mrs. Ruth A. Oriatt and Dorothy O. Lakes
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: This blue and white, Summer-and-Winter weave coverlet was woven from a warp of 2-ply, S-twist, Z-spun cotton, a ground weft of single ply Z-spun cotton, and a supplementary pattern weft of 2-ply, S-twist, Z-spun wool. The coverlet is constructed of two 35.5 inch widths that were woven as one length, cut, and seamed together to create the finished width. The pattern is a square variation of the “Whig Rose” pattern. There is fringe is along three sides. It appears the fringe was two inches long when new but has worn away over time. There are badly worn spots along the top and bottom edges and the center seam. The side fringe is detached and ragged in a few places. The condition of the coverlet overall is fair. According to the donors, this coverlet was woven in the first half of the nineteenth century in Cambridge, New York. The coverlet measures 92 inches by 66.5 inches.
Elizabeth Johnstone; coverlet panel; Summer-and-Winter weave; c. 1770-1790; Connecticut
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet panel, Summer-and-Winter
coverlet panel
date made: c. 1770-1790
place made: United States: Connecticut, Hartford
Physical Description: whig rose (overall pattern)
Summer-and-Winter (overall production method/technique)
blue, white (overall color)
cotton (overall material)
wool (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 85 in x 34 in; 215.9 cm x 86.36 cm
Credit line: Gift of Mrs. Muriel S. O'Neill
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: This blue and white, cotton and wool geometric coverlet panel is an excellent example of the structure known as Summer-and-Winter. There is a lot of apocryphal and mythological information circulating about the origins of this structure. Is it an American invention or a European holdover? It is quite likely we will never know. Summer-and-Winter weave is an overshot weave with stricter rules. The supplementary warp yarn cannot float over more than two warp yarns. This creates a tighter fabric and also gives Summer-and-Winter its light (Summer) side and its darker (Winter) side. This particular coverlet panel was woven by the donor’s great-great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Johnstone of Hartford, Connecticut for her dowry chest in the late eighteenth century. A letter from the donor recorded that the family said the coverlet was woven in the “late Revolutionary days.” Elizabeth married John Ashley, also from Connecticut, and the couple moved to Catskill, New York where they raised their family. Elizabeth would later move to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1836 to live with son John Joseph Ashley. The pattern depicted in this panel is most commonly referred to as “Whig Rose.” This panel would likely have been one of three that would have been woven as one length, cut, and sewn together to create the full, finished width. The coverlet was likely separated into panels during subsequent generations as it was passed down through the family.
Coverlet; turned twill; 19th century
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet, twill weave
coverlet
coverlet, twill
Date made: first half 19th century
date made: 1800-1850
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Maryland, Rockville
Physical Description: turned twill weave (overall production method/technique)
blue, white (overall color)
cotton, wool (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 88 in x 77 1/2 in; 223.52 cm x 196.85 cm
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: This blue and white, patterned turned twill coverlet is woven in the "Snail Trail," or "Cat Track," pattern with wavy linear border formed from a fractional reduction of the main pattern on all four sides. There are no hems along the top or bottom edges, but both are secured with an overcast binding stitch of natural 2-ply, s-twist z-spun cotton thread. This is the same yarn used in the warp and weft and likely originates from the last shot of the weft. According the accession file, this coverlet was woven in the Rockville, Montgomery County, Maryland area sometime during the nineteenth century. The wool in this coverlet is said to have come from sheep raised on the orginal owners farm.
"Orange Peel;" coverlet; overshot; c. 1770-1820
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet, overshot
coverlet
date made: late 18th early 19th century
1770-1820
place made: United States
Physical Description: overshot (overall production method/technique)
blue (overall color)
white (overall color)
wool (overall material)
linen (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 95 1/2 in x 68 in; 242.57 cm x 172.72 cm
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: This blue and white, overshot coverlet was woven using linen and wool in an “Orange Peel” pattern. The warp is a white, linen, 2-ply, s-twist, z-spun yarn. Both the ground weft and supplementary pattern weft are z-spun singles. The pattern weft is dyed blue. The coverlet measures 95.5 inches by 68 inches, and coverlet was constructed from two panels woven as one length, cut, and seamed together to create the finished width. Based on the use of linen in the warp it is possible to date this coverlet from 1770-1820.
coverlet; overshot; c. 1770; New England
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet
coverlet, overshot
date made: 1770-1790
c. 1770
maker: unknown
place made: United States: New England
Physical Description: wool, linen (overall material)
overshot (overall production method/technique)
Measurements: overall: 86 in x 59 1/2 in; 218.44 cm x 151.13 cm
Topics: Colonial America
Furnishings
Textiles
Description: This “Monk’s Belt,” orange, blue, brown, and white coverlet was repurposed during its life as the batting for a quilt. The pattern of this coverlet, known as “Monk’s Belt,” is a checkerboard repeat about five inches long and four inches wide, consisting of two, quarter-inch-wide blocks, with an inch-high horizontal band made up of stripes of blue/yellowish-tan/blue separating each row of blocks. The alternately woven yellow-tan and dark brown weft yarns create the block and stripe pattern. This coverlet was found inside an 18th-century quilt. It is believed to be one of the oldest coverlet in the collection--possibly as early as the 1770s. The coverlet measures 86 inches by 61 inches and was constructed from two panels. There are borders along three edges created from fractional reductions of the main pattern.
Copp Family Overshot Coverlet; Connecticut; c. 1790-1800
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet, overshot
coverlet
Date made: early 19th century
probably late 18th century
date made: c. 1770-1800
c. 1790-1800
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Connecticut, Stonington
Physical Description: white (overall color)
red (overall color)
wool (overall material)
cotton (overall material)
linen (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 102 1/2 in x 94 1/2 in; 260.35 cm x 240.03 cm
Credit line: Gift of John Brenton Copp
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: This red and white, cotton and wool, overshot coverlet comes from the Copp Family collection of Stonington, Connecticut and was woven sometime between 1790 and 1800. The pattern is a variation of the “Monk’s Belt” pattern most commonly known as “Braddock’s Defeat.” The coverlet is constructed of a natural linen warp, natural cotton weft, and madder-dyed, red wool supplementary weft yarnsThe coverlet is composed of three panels woven as one length, cut, and seamed with a 2-ply, S-twist, Z-spun, linen thread. This a 2.75 inch looped fringe is attached to three sides. The coverlet is a rare example of early imported spun cotton threads being used in weaving. The cotton yarns were not yet strong enough for use as warp threads, but here serve as the ground cloth weft threads.
Geometric Double-Cloth Coverlet; Pennsylvania, 1789
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet
coverlet, geometric
date made: 1785-1800
Physical Description: cotton, wool (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 88 in x 72 in; 223.52 cm x 182.88 cm
Credit line: Gift of Lester W. Stackhouse
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: The date 1789 and two letters (no longer readable) are embroidered into this double-woven coverlet in cross-stitch. The pattern features a variation of the "Pine Tree" motif in the border, and repetitive squares and diamonds in the center. Three of the four edges have an applied fringe. The coverlet is believed to have been made by a member of the Brown family of the village of Emilie, Pennsylvania, and received by the donor from his mother's father, Henry C. Brown (1848—-1921). He obtained it from his father, John B. Brown, of Emilie, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The maker of the coverlet is unknown.
coverlet; turned twill; 19th century; possibly Pennsylvania
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet, twill
date made: 1800-1850
maker: unknown
place made: United States: Pennsylvania
Physical Description: twill (overall production method/technique)
cotton, wool (overall material)
blue, white (overall color)
Measurements: overall: 85 in x 76 in; 215.9 cm x 193.04 cm
Credit line: Bequest of Miss Rebecca E. Everly
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: This is an example of a warp-faced twill weave, geometric coverlet woven in a “Whig Rose” pattern with compound “Pine Tree” borders. The borders on these geometric coverlets is created through a fractional reduction of the main motif. The coverlet is composed of two sections, each 38 inches wide. The coverlet was woven as one length, cut, and seamed up the middle to create a coverlet that measures 85 inches by 76 inches. There is self-fringe along three sides.
sheet, linen, hand-woven
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Sheet
sheet, linen, hand-woven
date made: 18th century
early 19th century
maker: unknown
Credit line: Gift of Mrs. Neil Windsor Robinson and Benjamin Windsor Robinson
18th Century Blanket
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Blanket
date made: 18th century
place made: United States
Measurements: overall: 82 in x 70 in; 208.28 cm x 177.8 cm
Credit line: Gift of Mrs. Ester Schwartz (Mrs. Samuel)
towel
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: Towel
Electa Kingsbury Sweetland; coverlet; overshot; c. 1800; Connecticut
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet, overshot
coverlet
date made: Early 19th century
c. 1800
maker: Sweetland, Electa Kingsbury
place made: United States: Connecticut, Coventry
Physical Description: overshot (overall production method/technique)
indigo (overall color)
natural (overall color)
wool, cotton (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 85 in x 67 in; 215.9 cm x 170.18 cm
Credit line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles. W. Prisk
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: It is likely that Electa Kingsbury Sweetland (b. 1781) of Coventry, Connecticut wove this blue and white, overshot, cotton and wool coverlet c. 1800. Sweetland also made one of the quilts in the collection (TE.T16940). The coverlet measures 85 inches by 67 inches. The warp is 2-ply, S-twist, off-white cotton. The ground weft is a Z-spun cotton single. The supplementary pattern weft is a 2 ply, S-twist, Z-spun indigo (blue) wool yarn. The coverlet is constructed from two panels that are sewn together with cotton thread. There is an applied fringe along three side of the coverlet, it is sewn on with cotton thread. The coverlet is woven in the pattern known as "Bonaparte's March." The coverlet along with the quilt descended in the Loomis and Prisk families of Connecticut.
"Double Bowknot with Window Sashes" overshot coverlet; 19th centuryy
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet, overshot
coverlet, overshot
date made: 1800-1900
19th century
maker: unknown
place made: United States
Physical Description: overshot (overall production method/technique)
cotton, wool (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 94 in x 66 in; 238.76 cm x 167.64 cm
Credit line: Gift of Mrs. Ester Ipp Schwartz (Mrs. Samuel)
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: Overshot coverlet woven with red, green and white cotton and wool yarn in a large "double bowknot with Window Sash" pattern. The white ground warp and weft (filling) yarns are white cotton, and the supplementary pattern weft yarns (red and green) are wool. Each repeat of the pattern is 18 inches by 20 inches. The coverlet is constructed of two panels, woven as one length, cut, and seamed together to create the finished width. This coverlet was woven sometime in the nineteenth century. There is little provenance information. Overshot coverlet weaving has been continual in the United States from colonial times through the present day and was usually associated with domestic production. This coverlet was purchased in New Jersey; however, it could have been woven from New England down through the South, where this pattern is commonly referred to as “Muscadine Hulls.”
"Granite State;" coverlet; overshot; c. 1800-1825; Northeastern United States
Collection: National Museum of American History
Object type: coverlet, overshot
coverlet
date made: first half 19th century?
1800-1825
maker: unknown
place made: United States: United States, Northeastern
Physical Description: overshot (overall production method/technique)
red (overall color)
white (overall color)
blue (overall color)
cotton (overall material)
wool (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 87 in x 70 7/8 in; 220.98 cm x 180.0225 cm
Credit line: Gift of Stephanie Jane Boylston in memory of Jenny Green
Topics: Furnishings
Textiles
Description: This red, blue, and white, overshot coverlet was woven in the "Granite State" pattern. There is a decorative self-fringe at the lower edge with a woven heading. The coverlet measures 87 inches by 70.88 inches, and it was constructed from two panels, woven as one length, cut, and seamed in the middle. The warp is a 2-ply, S-twist, Z-spun cotton. The ground weft is a Z-spun cotton single, and the pattern weft is red and indigo, 2-ply, S-twist, Z-spun wool.