Matthew Rattray; coverlet; Jacquard, double-cloth; 1853; Indiana
date: label: Date made
content: 1853
notes: label: Description
content: Matthew Rattray (1796-1872) woven is blue and white, Jacquard, double cloth coverlet in Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana in 1853. The coverlet measures 93 inches by 77 inches and was constructed from two panels woven as one length, cut, and sewn together in the center. There is self-fringe along the bottom edge. The centerfield design is foliate and geometric carpet medallion motif. The side borders show pairs of adorsed birds of paradise perched on branches. The lower border shows pairs of birds feeding their young on oak tree branches. The corner block logo is an eagle with twenty-six stars and the date, 1853. This cornerblock trademark is associated with the coverlet weaver, Matthew Rattray. Rattray was born and trained as a fancy weaver in Paisley, Scotland. Although there has yet to be evidence discovered, it is likely that Rattray first immigrated to America to work for a large industrial mill in New England before moving West to Indiana in the early 1840s. Once in Indiana, Rattray advertised extensively about his New York-made Jacquard machine, his ability to design and replicate patterns, and his proficiency at Figured and Fancy carpets, coverlets, and other fancy goods.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Indiana, Richmond
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Textiles
label: See more items in
content: Coverlets
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content: Textiles
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Mrs. Martha Strawbridge Dickes
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TE.T17894
label: catalog number
content: T17894.000
label: accession number
content: 319019
objectType: label: Object Name
content: coverlet, figured
label: Object Name
content: coverlet
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: double cloth (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: Jacquard (center production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: cotton, wool (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: white, blue (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: Figured and Fancy (overall style)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 93 in x 77 in; 236.22 cm x 195.58 cm