Woven Tied Beiderwand Coverlet

Date1862

Artist/Maker W. H. Gernand (active 1855-1879)

OriginAmerica, Maryland, Carroll County, Westminster

MediumRed, dark blue, and medium green wools with white cotton

DimensionsSide 1 (shirttail hem at top turned under): Rhand side 88" excluding irreg. fringe and 92 1/2" including fringe. Bottom 86" excluding fringe and 92" including fringe.

Credit LineGift of Mr. & Mrs. Foster McCarl, Jr.

Object number1991.609.4

DescriptionThis is single-woven, center-seamed coverlet of red, dark blue, and medium green wools and white cotton. Decoupure = 1. The coverlet is self-fringed at sides and bottom. The bottom cotton fringe is knotted. The side and bottom borders consist of small birds perched on twining and flowering vine, with a row of small tassels top and bottom. There is no top border. The centerfield consists of eight-pointed stars alternating with large sprays of a four roses variation (sunburst and double roses pattern). Woven into both lower corner blocks is the signature of the weaver, "W.H. GERNAND/DAMASK COVERLET/MANURACTURER./WESTMIN STER CA=/RROLL COUNTY. MD/1862". Woven above the right corner block only (side 1) is "S. C. POWELL."
MarkingsWoven into both lower corner blocks is the signature of the weaver, "W.H. GERNAND/DAMASK COVERLET/MANURACTURER./WESTMIN STER CA=/RROLL COUNTY. MD/1862". Woven above the right corner block only (side 1) is "S. C. POWELL."
ProvenanceOwnership prior to AARFAM's donor is not certain; the coverlet described here may be the same one that was listed in AARFAM files April 17, 1974, as offered for sale by R. Davidson Antiques (Westminster, Md.)