Bedspread

Object Name:

Bedspread

Object ID:

1986.056.02

Place of Origin:

Newmarket, NH

Date:

1829

Description:

Coverlet. Owned by Abigail W. Drowne (1801-1890), Newmarket, NH; 1829. White cotton with fringe, woven in ribbed pattern with geometric designs. Weft loop woven, in imitation of a Bolton spread. Pieced from different widths of weft loop bedcovers (in which the pattern is created by picking up short loops of supplementary weft threads during the weaving process). The center panel has a selvedge to selvedge width of 41 inches, while the panels on each side are only 32 1/2 inches wide. Border designs are consistent from panel to panel, so it is possible that the maker planned the bedcover this way, either to get the width she desired, or because she was not confident about matching the pattern up a center seam. The center panel features a medallion design resembling a tic-tac-toe pattern, with stars between the lines; the center star is the largest. Above this medallion is the inscription panel, with the initials "AWD" and date "1829" picked out in the weft loops. The section below the center medallion is pieced, rather than being a continuous woven length. This lower panel features a basket of triangular flowers flanked by bottle-like motifs. Across the bottom is a design resembling a wave, with diamonds between each wave. Side panels feature designs of pine trees, stars, and the wave motif. The lower corners, which are also pieced, are rounded. These corners have been cut and the raw edges finished with linen tape; cut so they would hang around the bed posts like a cut-corner quilt, but then were later stitched closed. Edges are finished with a homemade cotton fringe.

Material:

Textile
Cotton

Dimensions:

W-110.5 L-95 inches

Provenance:

Made for Abigail W. Drowne (1801-1890) of Newmarket, N.H. in 1829. Abigail W. (Drowne) Harvey was the great-grandmother of the donor, Helen Coe Simpson (1905-1988).

Credit Line:

Gift of Helen Coe Simpson

People:

Drowne, Abigail W. (1801-1890), Simpson, Helen Coe (1905-1988)

Subjects:

Sewing, Bedspreads, Textiles, Weaving