Description:
Cotton whitework coverlet made of white cotton dimity (with the cording running horizontally) with thick cotton threads in a style known as "candlewicking" because of the thick thread's resemblance to a candle's wick in a central floral motif in a clear pot surrounded by a three-sided stylized fruit design, which is composed of three widths, each 28" wide, that were embroidered before being whip-stitched together. 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. According to Suzanne Flynt, this coverlet is likely the original one made for Miss C. Alice Baker (1833-1909), the daughter of Richard Catlin (1773-1852) by her aunt (her father's sister), Kate Catlin (b. 1783). The daughter of Seth Catlin (1734-1798) and Abigail Denio (1737/38-1805) of Deerfield, Kate Catlin remained unmarried and supported herself with her needlework. A later copy with netted fringe made by L. Emma Henry (b.1844) appears in a photograph (owned by PVMA's Memorial Hall Museum) of Baker's bed from about 1900, which is . The daughter of Elbert Amidon (1812-1893) of Rowe and Emerline L. Wilson (d.1844) who moved to Deerfield, Emerine L. Henry (b.1843) married David Henry (1839-after 1910) in Deerfield 1864, and later became an officer of The Deerfield Society of Arts and Crafts, later renamed The Society of Deerfield Industries. The Henry coverlet was shown at a Deerfield Arts and Crafts show in 1903, which was described in a front page article in the "Greenfield Recorder" on July 29, 1903; however, Suzanne Flynt does not know what happened to this reproduction. Memorial Hall Museum does own the paper pattern of this piece's embroidery design. Subsequent copies of the embroidery design appear in a door cover made by the Deerfield Society of Blue and White Needlework (DSBWN) as well as at least one copy of the coverlet itself made by Emma Henry. Also see HD 69.1222 for another coverlet made by Emma Henry, which has elements of this Catlin piece. 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. The coverlet is made up of three selvage widths of fabric, each about 27" wide. All four sides are hemmed. Frame-within-a-frame decorative scheme. Formerly HD 34-F.
Subjects:
Textile fabrics; Cotton; Embroidery Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+93.837 |
