Overshot coverlet panels, Catalpa Flower; New York, first half 19th century
date: label: Date made
content: 19th century
label: date made
content: 1800-1850
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description
content: This overshot, indigo and white coverlet (now separated into two panels) is woven in the "Catalpa Flower" pattern. Overshot patterning is based on a float weave structure, where a supplementary weft yarn is added to create the pattern. The yarn floats or shoots over the top of the plain weave ground cloth creating the pattern. The pattern is a reversible negative, meaning that the color combination is reversed on the opposite side. Overshot coverlets can be woven on simple four-shaft looms. They are usually associated with domestic production and many of them are attributed to female weavers. Professional male weavers also wove floatwork coverlets. Many overshot patterns have names; however, these names changed and varied due to time and location. According to the donor, this coverlet descended through the Van Meter family of New York and was likely woven in the first half of the nineteenth century by a female ancestor. The two coverlet panels would have been joined with a center seam. These panels were repurposed during the early 20th century Colonial Revival decorating period and used as portieres in the Van Meter home. Each of the two panels measures 75 inches by 35.25 inches.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York
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 Mrs. Katherine Arnold Van Meter, through her son Mr. Robin A. Van Meter
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TE.T14960A
label: catalog number
content: T14960.00S
label: catalog number
content: T14960.A-S
label: accession number
content: 286274
label: catalog number
content: T14960-B/S
objectType: label: Object Name
content: coverlet panels, overshot
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: overshot (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: "catalpa flower" (overall pattern)
label: Physical Description
content: indigo, white (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: cotton, wool (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 75 in x 35 1/4 in; 190.5 cm x 89.535 cm