Bedspread

Object Name:

Bedspread

Object ID:

2014.043

Creator:

Towle, Nancy (1790-1872)

Place of Origin:

Pittsfield, NH

Date:

circa 1840

Description:

Coverlet. Woven by Nancy Towle (1790-1872), Pittsfield, NH, c. 1840. Overshot, woven with dark blue wool yarns and white cotton yarns. Woven design, block with four circles (or "snowballs") separated by sashing created with motifs resembling thread spools. The colors in the pattern are reversed on the other side. Seamed up the center; each panel is 41" wide. The pattern is well matched along the seam, but there is a little distortion towards the top, as the maker forced the matching to some degree. The top edge is hemmed; the bottom edge is self-fringed with the cotton warp threads, and the sides have applied white cotton fringe. The stitching of the fringe is done with linen thread.

Material:

Textile
Cotton
Wool

Dimensions:

W-85.5 L-92 inches

Provenance:

Made by Nancy Towle (1790-1872) of Pittsfield, NH, c. 1840. Nancy was the youngest of eight children born to Jonathan and Miriam (Marston) Towle. The family had moved to Pittsfield from Hampton in 1781. Nancy never married, remaining on and working the family farm after her father's death in 1822. The farm and her personal possessions passed to her elder brother James' sons, Robey and Samuel, after her death in 1872. The donor is descended from the maker's brother, James Marston Towle (1781-1813) of Pittsfield.

Credit Line:

Gift of Dorothy T. Cook

People:

Towle, Nancy (1790-1872)

Subjects:

Weaving