Woven Tied Beiderwand Coverlet
Dateca. 1850
Artist/Maker
Robert Alexander
(1801 - 1880)
MediumDark blue wool with natural cotton.
DimensionsLength/Height: 87 5/8" w/o fringe, 89 1/8" with fringe; Width: 70" w/o fringe, 75" with fringe.
Credit LineGift of Mr. & Mrs. Foster McCarl, Jr.
Object number1983.609.3
DescriptionThis is a tied Beiderwand single-woven coverlet of dark blue wool weft with natural cotton warp, and self-fringed on three sides. The interior consists of a repeat of four large lilies radiating from an abstractly designed floral spray. The side borders consist of a repeat of confrontal peacocks on branches. The lower border is a repeat of horseman and dog over several rows of simple decorative elements in a repeat. In both lower corner blocks is "ROBERT/ALEXAN/DER+CANFI/ELD OHIO" over a 1 1/2-story building with center chimney.Label TextWeaver Robert Alexander chose a busy, detailed peacock side border, one of five borders in his repertoire, for this coverlet. The other four side border designs contain architectural buildings. His known coverlets feature only one bottom border design, that of riders and their dogs. The corner block with his signature is designed as part of the bottom border.
ProvenanceNo history of owners prior to donor's is known. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Foster McCarl, Jr., Beaver Falls, Pa.
Probably 1835-1840
ca. 1845
Probably ca. 1870
