Craig Family; coverlet panel; Figured and Fancy, double-cloth; 1847; Indiana
date: label: Date made
content: 1847
name: label: maker
content: Craig Family
notes: label: Description
content: This coverlet panel represents one half of a completed Figured and Fancy, double-cloth coverlet. Members of the Craig family wove this coverlet in 1847 in Decatur County, Indiana. The centerfield features a lattice created by a combination of square, stylized floral rosettes, berries and lotus-like flowers, and Great Seal Eagle. The incorporation of the woven inscription, “LIBERTY” helps to tie the design together. In the lattice openings are alternating bands of “Double Lotus” and “Double Bellflower” patterns. Both of these patterns are variations of the more traditional “Double Rose” and “Lilies of France” patterns. The top and bottom borders feature the Craig family signature “Bellflower and Bluebell” border. The side border combines the “Peacock Feeding its Young” motif with oversized urns and domed buildings. The cornerblocks are the traditional Craig family trademark—the dated courthouse with cupola.
label: Description
content: This panel measures 83x36 inches and would have been one of two. There is evidence of self-fringe along the top and bottom edges although this just as likely could be unravelling due to the rolled hems coming loose with time. The double-cloth structure requires two sets of warps and wefts. 2-ply, S-twist, Z-spun cotton yarns and 2-ply, S-twist, Z-spun wool yarns were used in alternation combination to create this coverlet.
label: Description
content: The donor received this coverlet panel from her grandmother, Courtney McCoy Kanouse (1850-1934). The other panel went to a sister and is now likely in the collection of Hanover College, Indiana as they possess an identical panel, but more research is needed to confirm this. Courtney and her husband, John R. Kanouse (1843-1909) were, at the time of his death, among the wealthiest citizens in Decatur County, Indiana. John operated a general store in the villages of St. Omer and St. Paul and owned land in northern Adams Township. The Kanouse land neighbored the holdings of wealthy farmer and Kentucky native, Isaiah McCoy (1814-1909), Mary’s father. It is this close proximity that likely led to their marriage in 1871. The life dates and marriage date of Courtney and John are curious when compared to the 1847 date on the coverlet panel. Parents often ordered coverlets in groups for their children and is likely the case with this coverlet. Isaiah and his wife, Mary Short (1816-1891) were married in 1838. In the 1850 Federal Census the couple was listed as having five children—John, Nancy, Benjamin, Eliza, and Julia. Courtney, aged ten, and sister, Armonda, aged six, both appear for the first time in the 1860 Federal Census.
label: Description
content: This leaves a few options open for the coverlet’s commission. The first possibility is that Isaiah and Mary McCoy commissioned a group of coverlets for their children in 1847, the oldest of whom, John would have been eight-years-old. A second possibility is that the coverlet was passed down through the Kanouse family and could possibly commemorate the marriage of John R, Kanouse’s parents, who due to variations in the surname spelling, have not yet been identified. However, we do know that John was born in Decatur County, Indiana, but more research is needed to follow this lead. Whatever the case, we are able to better understand the types of customer’s for whom a coverlet weaver would be working.
place: label: place made
content: United States: Indiana, Decatur
label: place made
content: United States: Indiana, Decatur
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Textiles
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content: Coverlets
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content: Textiles
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Hilda L Jay and John Jay
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1990.0293.01
label: catalog number
content: 1990.0293.01
label: accession number
content: 1990.0293
objectType: label: Object Name
content: coverlet panel, figured
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wool, cotton (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: double-cloth (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: Figured and Fancy (overall style)
label: Physical Description
content: blue, white (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: "Four Lillies" "liberty" variation (overall pattern)
label: Physical Description
content: "Peacock Feeding its Young" variation (overall pattern)
label: Physical Description
content: "Bell Flower and Bluebells" (overall pattern)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 83 in x 36 in; 210.82 cm x 91.44 cm