Summer-and-Winter coverlet; c. 1790-1820; Connecticut
date: label: date made
content: early 19th century
label: date made
content: c. 1790-1820
notes: label: Description
content: This blue and white, cotton and wool geometric coverlet is an excellent example of the structure known as Summer-and-Winter. There is a lot of apocryphal and mythological information circulating about the origins of this structure. Is it an American invention or a European holdover? It is quite likely we will never know. Summer-and-Winter weave is an overshot weave with stricter rules. The supplementary warp yarn cannot float over more than two warp yarns. This creates a tighter fabric and also gives Summer-and-Winter its light (Summer) side and its darker (Winter) side. The weaver used a pattern most commonly known as "Cup and Saucer" with no border. A woven fringe has been pieced and applied around three edges of the coverlet. The coverlet is constructed from two panels which were woven as one length, cut, and sewn together to create the finished width. Each section is 39.5 inches wide, and the coverlet measures 85 inches by 79 inches. This coverlet descended through the donor’s family and was made in Connecticut between 1790 and 1820.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Connecticut
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 Hazel N. Davis through Sarah J. Adamson
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TE.T16372
label: catalog number
content: T16372.000
label: accession number
content: 300918
objectType: label: Object Name
content: coverlet, Summer-and-Winter
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: Summer-and-Winter (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: cup and saucer (overall pattern)
label: Physical Description
content: blue, white (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: cotton, wool (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 85 in x 79 in; 215.9 cm x 200.66 cm