Woven Tied Beiderwand Coverlet

DateProbably 1835-1840

Artist/Maker James Pearson (active 1840)

OriginAmerica, Ohio, Medina County, Chippewa

MediumRed, dark blue, and light blue wools and natural cotton with light blue cotton supplementary thread.

DimensionsLength/Height: 83" no fringe; Width: 74" w/o fringe, 78" with fringe.

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

Object number1978.609.6

DescriptionThe coverlet is worked in tied beiderwand construction and is center-seamed. The warp face of the coverlet features a design of confrontal, perched peacocks worked in natural cotton over horizontal bands of alternating colors. The relatively small scale of the field repeat and two different, narrow, flowering vine borders create a dense, yet delicate, overall design.
Label TextWeavers adorned their coverlets with a large array of animal motifs. Lions, horses, giraffes, monkeys, cats, snakes, alligators, cows, squirrels, peacocks, eagles, thistle finches, turkeys, and roosters are just some of the beasts and birds that parade across fancy and figured coverlets.
The forty stylized yet recognizable peacocks in this centerfield stand on willow branches with their heads turned to face the tree. Peacocks were a popular motif on textiles from the 1820s through the 1840s. In Christian art the peacock appears as a symbol of immortality. It also is associated with worldly pride and vanity, due to the peacock's habit of strutting and displaying its beautiful tail feathers.
MarkingsWoven into each lower corner block is "BY/JAMES/PEARSON/CHIP/PEWA."
ProvenanceOwnership prior to the donor's is unknown.