Description:
Cotton whitework coverlet made of three pieces of white ribbed cotton with two cut-out corner embroidered in loops, knots, and backstitch in thick cotton threads in a style known as "candlewicking" because of the thick thread's resemblance to a candle's wick, and inscribed "Betsy Whitmore / Spencer / May 13, 1812" on the bottom width. The coverlet has a center star with a center square filled with balls in trelliswork and star points with lines, and scalloped circles with nine balls inside alternating with six-petalled flowers with ball centers between star points; all outlined by three double lines froming a crenulated cross with two stars on each side, four-petal floral top and bottom; four footed baskets with handles holding a branch with arching flowers; and three borders: 1. scrolling vine with flowers and leaves; 2. four-strand swags with a bow knot and tassels on the bottom and sides; 3. 2-line small and large scallops alternating with a large scallop trimed with additional scallops. The period term for this kind of embroidery is "knotted counterpane" as found in a c.1854 Illinois reference by Gail Bakkom and referred to by former Winterthur textile curator and author, Susan Swan. A note from the donor's famiy came with the coverlet: "Betsey Whitmore the maker of this bed spread was born in Paxton Mass. Jan. 24, 1792; the daughter of Eder and Betsey (Knight) Whitmore. She married Charles Watson April 15, 1813. Their first child Aaron, born may 23, 1814, was my grandfather. She died May 3, 1870. E.P. W. Aug. 30, 1940." In 1813, Betsey Whitmore (1792-1870), the daughter of Eber Whitmore (1759-1848) and Betsey Knight Whitmore (1764-1848) of Paxton, Masachusetts, married Charles Watson (1784-1851), the son of Robert Watson (1746-1806) of Spencer Massachusetts, and Tamer Whittermore (1757-1836) in Spenser, Massachusetts, where they then lived. The coverlet descended to their eldest son Aaron Watson (1814-1896) of Spenser whose first wife was Almira Bartlett (1814-1852) who he married in 1842 and had two children, and his second wife was Hannah Metcalf Belcher (1821-1878) who he married in 1855 and had four children. Aaron and Hannah's son, Arthur Boulton Watson (1858-1909) of Spencer married Etta Maude Phillips (b.1868), daughter of Alfred Lorenzo and Sarah McDuffee Phillips of Spencer, in 1893, and the coverlet descended to their children, the donors Myra J. Watson Clark and her brother, Earl Phillips Watson (b.1894). White bed coverings, such as this example with white embroidery or surface design, are referred to as "whitework," and frequently appear on examples dating to the early 19th century. Although more difficult to keep clean, white domestic textiles, especially those made from cotton, could be easily laundered.
Subjects:
Textile fabrics; Cotton; Embroidery Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+92.039 |
