Hannah Chandler; "American Beauty;" coverlet; overshot; c. 1790-1825; Vermont
date: label: Date made
content: 1780
label: Date made
content: ca.1780
label: date made
content: c. 1790-1825
name: label: maker
content: Chandler, Hannah
label: maker
content: Chandler, Hannah
notes: label: Description
content: Hannah Chandler (1761-1836) wove this "American Beauty" pattern, overshot coverlet using a light and medium blue 2-ply, S-twist, Z-spun indigo-dyed cotton and linen warp, a Z-spun cotton single weft, and a 2-ply, S-twist, Z-spun gold wool supplementary pattern weft. The coverlet was woven as one length, cut in half, folded back on itself, and seamed up the middle, creating the full coverlet width. Although undated in the weave and lacking an embroidered date on the hemline, this coverlet was most likely woven c. 1790-1825 near Wilmington, Vermont. This coverlet is said to be made by Hannah Chandler. The donor is the great-granddaughter of Hannah, wife of Medad Smith. Hannah Chandler was born October 28, 1761 and died April 26, 1836. Medad Smith was born February 22, 1755, and married Hannah October 23, 1781. The coverlet was originally dated at 1780, but this is too early for plied cotton yarns to be found in the warp. Technology improved toward the end of the 18th century allowing for stronger cotton yarns that could withstand the tension of the loom. This coverlet is interesting because of the blue-dyed cotton and linen threads. When contrasted with the gold wool, this coverlet would have really stood out in a room.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Vermont, Wilmington
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Textiles
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content: Coverlets
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content: Domestic Furnishings
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content: Textiles
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Grace L. Temple
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TE.T7728
label: catalog number
content: T7728
label: catalog number
content: T. 7728
label: accession number
content: 139053
objectType: label: Object Name
content: coverlet, overshot
label: Object Name
content: coverlet
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: cotton, linen, wool (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: overshot (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: 4-harness loom (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: American Beauty (overall pattern)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 88 in x 78 in; 223.52 cm x 198.12 cm