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Woven Tied Beiderwand Coverlet
No image number on slide

Woven Tied Beiderwand Coverlet

Dateca. 1845
OriginAmerica, Mid-Atlantic or Midwest
MediumCotton and wool
DimensionsOL: 99.5" with fringe x 80; 95" without fringe x 80 OW: 85" with fringe; 80.5" without fringe
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1974.609.30
DescriptionThis coverlet is a red, light blue and natural single woven coverlet which is made from two pieces of woven fabric that have been stitched together to form a center seam. The piece is woven in a tied beiderwand construction, which has a cream and light blue cotton warp with a thinner cream cotton weft. The coverlet has a red supplemental weft. The center ground has rows of large round floral motifs surrounded by a floral border with an outer border of churches alternating with another building. This border is only on three sides of the piece. In the lower two corners there is a corner block that has a large peacock in it. The piece has fringe of three sides. The fringe on the two long sides is woven with the piece while the fringe on the bottom edge was woven separately and stitched onto the rolled hem. The top of the piece has a rolled hem. Worked in cross stitch in one of the corner blocks on the predominant cotton side are the initials "E F M."
Label TextJacquard weavers in both Pennsylvania and Ohio used several of the motifs featured in this coverlet. For example, the distinctive peacock seen here appears as both a corner block and as a border repeat in coverlets tentatively associated with Pennsylvania, but scaled down versions of the bird also appear as a repetitive field design in Ohio coverlets. The large central medallions were used by both Absalom Klinger (1817-1901) of Berks County, Pennsylvania, and by William H. Van Gordon (ca. 1824-?) of Miami County, Ohio, at least.
The attractive side borders of buildings are abbreviated versions of the so-called "Boston Town" design; full versions include assorted sailing vessels below the architectural motifs, and crosses atop taller church steeples.
InscribedNone
MarkingsWorked in cross-stitch in one of the corner blocks on the predominantly cotton side are the initials "E. F. M."