Martin Breneman coverlet panels; Figured and Fancy; Pennsylvania, 1840
date: label: Date made
content: 1840
notes: label: Description
content: Martin B. Breneman (1803-1889) of Washington Township, York County, Pennsylvania wove this red, green, blue, and white, tied-Beiderwand coverlet in 1840. Today the coverlet exists as two panels which were woven as one length and then cut and sewn together to create the coverlet’s full width. The museum received this coverlet in two panels. Coverlets were often separated into their panels for washing and repurposing as Colonial Revival portieres or curtains. This coverlet was woven for Rachel Armitage, and her name, and that of the weaver, Martin Breneman, appear in the lower two cornerblocks along with date, 1840, and the location, Washington Twp., York County, Pennsylvania. The centerfield design features a “Double Rose and Starburst” carpet medallion pattern. The border motif is the “Eagle and Tree” pattern, which consists of eagles with the word "eagle" woven under the image. Three sides of the coverlet have an applied fringe. Martin B. Breneman (May 21, 1803-December 15, 1889) was the fourth generation of a five-generation-long, Pennsylvania weaving dynasty. He married Elizabeth Asper (July 9, 1802-November 15, 1872) around 1825. Their sons, Jacob and Adam would also work as weavers. The couple were buried in Barrens Salem Union Cemetery, Dillsburg, York Co., Pennsylvania.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Textiles
label: See more items in
content: Coverlets
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Mrs. Sarah Salisbury
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2004.0205.01
label: accession number
content: 2004.0205
objectType: label: Object Name
content: coverlet panels, figured
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wool, cotton (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: tied-Beiderwand (overall production method/technique)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 85 in x 96 3/4 in; 215.9 cm x 245.745 cm