Figured and Fancy coverlet; double-cloth; 1830; New York
date: label: Date made
content: 1830
notes: label: Description
content: The weaver of these Scipio, New York coverlets has yet to be identified. This blue and white, Figured and Fancy, double cloth coverlet has a “Double Rose,” carpet medallion centerfield, double-headed “Eagle and Federal Hall” side borders, double-headed “Eagle and Tree” bottom border, and no fringe. The pattern repeat unit is 18.5 inches by 14.25 inches. The border is 7.5 Inches wide on all sides. The coverlet has a center seam which is hand stitched but does not appear to be original because the thread is so white in contrast to the yellowed white yarns in the coverlet It has been hemmed on all four sides. It was a common practice to undo the center seam when washing coverlets. Because of their overall size and the weight of them wet, they were more easily managed in panels. The coverlet has woven inscription in the two bottom corner blocks which read, "Matilda Gray Scipio NY 1830." Being double-cloth, the coverlet was woven from two sets of warps and wefts made up of 3-ply, S-Twist, Z-Spun cotton and wool yarns. Although this coverlet was woven in New York, it was purchased by the donor in the twentieth century in Napa, California, attesting the importance of coverlets as family heirlooms and their association with westward expansion in America. There were many people named Matilda Gray living in New York State in 1830; however, the best candidate for the owner of this coverlet seems to be the Matilda Gray born circa 1809-1812.
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
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content: Coverlets
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content: Textiles
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Mrs. Lilian M. Holman
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1982.0459.01
label: accession number
content: 1982.0459
label: catalog number
content: 1982.0459.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: coverlet, figured
label: Object Type
content: double weave
label: Object Type
content: jacquard coverlets
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: Figured and Fancy (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: double cloth (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: blue (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: white (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: double rose (center pattern)
label: Physical Description
content: double-headed eagle (center pattern)
label: Physical Description
content: federal hall (border pattern)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 79 in x 72 in; 200.66 cm x 182.88 cm