Harry Tyler coverlet; Figured and Fancy, double cloth; 1858; New York
date: label: date made
content: 1858
name: label: maker
content: Tyler, Harry
notes: label: Description
content: Harry Tyler (1801-1858) wove this blue and white, double cloth coverlet in 1858. The coverlet has no fringe and measures 94 inches by 84 inches and is made up of two panels with a center seam. There is a large central medallion composed of a starburst and floral design. Beyond that, but still inside the centerfield are stylized floral designs with blooms, buds, and a bird perched in each of the four corners. The four-sided border is composed of gadrooned bowls on stands filled with fruit and flowers. The cornerblocks feature a Great Seal Eagle with a banderole depicting the motto, “E. Pluribus Unum.” The coverlet features the inscription, “1858/ Marjery L. Emerson/ Jefferson Co. NY” in each of the four corners.
label: Description
content: Tyler was born in Connecticut, moving to New York sometime around 1834. Harry Tyler married three times to Anne Cole, Harriet A. Dye, and Mary A. Tyler. His son with Anne, Elman Tyler (1829-1909) was also a coverlet weaver and wove coverlets in the same pattern as his father even after Harry’s death in 1858. This coverlet is either one of Harry Tyler’s last coverlets or one that his son wove. The details of Harry Tyler’s life are a bit of a mystery. There are over 300 coverlets attributed to Tyler, but very little documentary evidence of his business activity or life. The Jefferson County Historical Society is fortunate to have over 40 Harry Tyler coverlets in its collection. They also included this information about the death of Harry Tyler, which has evaded scholars for decades. Harry Tyler died August 22,1858 at the age of 57 after suffering a stroke and is buried in Smithville Cemetery, Jefferson County, New York.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Textiles
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content: Coverlets
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content: Textiles
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content: Domestic Furnishings
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Emerson
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TE.T15710
label: catalog number
content: T15710.000
label: accession number
content: 297488
objectType: label: Object Name
content: coverlet, figured
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: double cloth (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: wool, cotton (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: Figured and Fancy (overall style)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 94 in x 84 in; 238.76 cm x 213.36 cm