Figured and Fancy coverlet; double-cloth; 1830; New York
date: label: Date made
content: 1830
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description
content: This blue and white double-cloth, Figured and Fancy coverlet was possibly made in Scipio, New York in 1830. There are “Double Lily” carpet medallions in the centerfield, and three borders depicting fruit trees, pine trees, and trees with no leaves. It is possible that this border pattern is attempting to represent the changing of the seasons from bare to leaf, to fruiting, and back again. The lower two corner blocks have this woven in: "E.V/Valen/tine/Scipio/N.Y. 1830". According to the donor, the coverlet was made for her grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Hilliker Valentine (1782-1874). The weaver of Scipio coverlets has yet to be discovered. There is no evidence of active weavers working in Scipio; however, there are numerous weavers in Cayuga County. Many of these weavers advertised in local newspapers with several different locations where customers could order their coverlets, drop off their wool yarn, and then pick up the finished coverlet. It likely that the Valentine family placed the order for this coverlet at a local general store of inn, where the yarn and order was taken to a weaver or small manufactory in the county.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, Cayuga
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Textiles
label: See more items in
content: Coverlets
label: See more items in
content: Domestic Furnishings
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content: Textiles
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Mrs. Harrett E. Blodgett
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TE.E287384
label: catalog number
content: E287384.000
label: accession number
content: 058478
objectType: label: Object Name
content: coverlet, figured
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: double weave (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: trees (border pattern)
label: Physical Description
content: Double Lily (center pattern)
label: Physical Description
content: blue (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: white (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: cotton (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: wool (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 84 in x 82 in; 213.36 cm x 208.28 cm