Albany weaver; overshot coverlet; 1795; New York
date: label: Date made
content: 1795
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description
content: This blue and white overshot coverlet is dated 1795 in the weave along with the initials “E.B.” The overshot patterning was created using a supplementary wool weft which shoots over a plain weave foundation. The top and bottom edges are hemmed about 3/8 of an inch, and the center seam is joined with an overcast stitch in which the 2 selvages just meet. Coverlets with seams were woven as single lengths, cut, and joined to create wider textiles suitable for bed coverings. Seams and hems appear to have been redone, which is standard with use and washing. Pattern name is unknown but is the same as coverlet 1979.0723.01, with stars clustered in alternating groups of four or five with tables at their corners. The pattern is similar to Tennessee Trouble and Sun, Moon, and Stars, but as with quilt patterns, names change over time and place. It has a border on all four sides. The border pattern is a fractional reduction of the centerfield pattern. The name of the weaver of this coverlet remains unknown. What is known is that this weaver operated in Albany, New York from approximately 1770-1830 and wove a great number of overshot coverlets with pick-up-woven dates and initials in the lower border. The oldest dated coverlet known to exist was woven by this weaver. It is dated 1771 and currently resides at the National Museum of the American Coverlet in Bedford, Pennsylvania. The National Museum of American History has three coverlets from this weaver. The initials differ on each coverlet, and the initials almost certainly reflect the client’s name rather than the weaver.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, Albany
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: Textiles
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1980.0241.01
label: accession number
content: 1980.0241
label: catalog number
content: 1980.0241.001
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Coverlet
label: Object Name
content: coverlet, overshot
label: Object Name
content: coverlet
label: Object Type
content: coverlets
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: overshot (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: blue (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: white (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: linen (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: wool (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 93 in x 66 in; 236.22 cm x 167.64 cm