Textiles

Coverlet

The 50,000 objects in the textile collections fall into two main categories: raw fibers, yarns, and fabrics, and machines, tools, and other textile technology. Shawls, coverlets, samplers, laces, linens, synthetics, and other fabrics are part of the first group, along with the 400 quilts in the National Quilt Collection. Some of the Museum's most popular artifacts, such as the Star-Spangled Banner and the gowns of the first ladies, have an obvious textile connection.

The machinery and tools include spinning wheels, sewing machines, thimbles, needlework tools, looms, and an invention that changed the course of American agriculture and society. A model of Eli Whitney's cotton gin, made by the inventor in the early 1800s, shows the workings of a machine that helped make cotton plantations profitable in the South and encouraged the spread of slavery.

Date: 1860s

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.036
catalog number
033675.036
accession number
70138

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1860
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.016
catalog number
033675.016
accession number
70138

1862 - Mrs. Tom Thumb's Sewing Machine; Wheeler & Wilson

Miniature sewing machine and cabinet; cabinet decorated with six panel paintings and inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting wedding of Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren Bump, their carriage ride in Central Park, patriotic panels of each of them with the American flag, and the back pane
Description
Miniature sewing machine and cabinet; cabinet decorated with six panel paintings and inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting wedding of Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren Bump, their carriage ride in Central Park, patriotic panels of each of them with the American flag, and the back panels show a woman sewing by hand and then sewing using a Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine. All sides of the case protecting the sewing machine head have painted decorations: an American Eagle is painted on the front; on the right side a cherub with crossed arms; on the left side a cherub resting his chin on a hand; and the Wheeler and Wilson factory is shown on the back. Inside the cabinet are five drawers with ivory knobs containing sewing bobbins, four glass presser feet, one package of five needles, one wrench and one attachment guide The flywheel and other parts within the cabinet are silver-plated. Two separate foot shaped treadles measure a tiny 7 1/2"L x 2"W.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1862
owner
Thumb, Tom
Bump, Lavinia Warren
maker
Wheeler and Wilson Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1992.0109.01
catalog number
1992.0109.01
accession number
1992.0109

Overshot Coverlet, all wool; Ohio, 1840-1860

According to the donor of this coverlet, it first belonged to Mrs. Ferdinand O’Neal, who lived just outside Zanesville, Ohio. Her maiden name is believed to have been Wheeler, and in about 1863 she married Mr.
Description
According to the donor of this coverlet, it first belonged to Mrs. Ferdinand O’Neal, who lived just outside Zanesville, Ohio. Her maiden name is believed to have been Wheeler, and in about 1863 she married Mr. O’Neal and moved to a home outside of Zanesville, known as “Greenwood.” Mrs. O’Neal passed the coverlet on to her daughter Marcella O’Neal, who passed it on to Martha Margaret O’Neal. The coverlet is made entirely of wool, and was probably woven between 1840 and 1860. It is an overshot weave, seamed together from two pieces. The pattern, of concentric circles linked by small squares giving the effect of a diagonal grid, is similar to one known as “Cup and Saucer.” The weaver is unknown.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1840-1860
maker
unknown
ID Number
1993.0225.01
accession number
1993.0225
catalog number
1993.0225.01

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1860
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.179
catalog number
033675.179
accession number
70138

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1860
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.025
catalog number
033675.025
accession number
70138

Barbe

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1860's
ID Number
TE.T12709
catalog number
T12709.000
accession number
239090

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1860
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.024
catalog number
033675.024
accession number
70138

lace

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1860
ID Number
TE.T16216
catalog number
T16216.000

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.028
catalog number
033675.028
accession number
70138

Handkerchief with Valenciennes Style Machine Lace Edge

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
ID Number
TE.E363047.000
catalog number
E363047.000
accession number
118080

Louise Abigail Richards Maxey; "Monk's Belt" coverlet; overshot; c. 1860; Virginia

Mrs. Louise Abigail Richard Maxey (1845-1929) of Franklin County, Virginia wove this red, white, and blue “Monk’s Belt”, overshot coverlet at the age of 17 in 1860.
Description
Mrs. Louise Abigail Richard Maxey (1845-1929) of Franklin County, Virginia wove this red, white, and blue “Monk’s Belt”, overshot coverlet at the age of 17 in 1860. The coverlet measures 93.5 inches by 61 inches and was constructed from two panels seamed up the center.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1860
date made
c. 1860
ID Number
TE.T13599
catalog number
T13599.000
accession number
259882

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.031
catalog number
033675.031
accession number
70138

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1860
ID Number
CS.033675.210
catalog number
033675.210

White Work Embroidery

An unfinished piece of French or white work embroidery. Embroidered in cotton on double thickness of linen fabric showing the pattern stamped in blue and partly worked, in eyelet, satin, and buttonhole stitches by a young soldier at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.
Description
An unfinished piece of French or white work embroidery. Embroidered in cotton on double thickness of linen fabric showing the pattern stamped in blue and partly worked, in eyelet, satin, and buttonhole stitches by a young soldier at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. The date “August 21st, 1866” is penciled on the wrong side. The eyelet stitches require first a hole to be made in the fabric and then satin stitches completely cover the edge of the opening. This piece shows the progression of a work, with the excess fabric cut away after the buttonhole stitches were finished along the edge.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1866
ID Number
TE.T9135
catalog number
T09135.000
accession number
170225

Lake Shore and Southern Railway Coverlet, after 1868

This Jacquard, red, white, blue, and green double-cloth lap coverlet features a scalloped centerfield. “L. S. R. R. SLEEPING CAR” is woven into the innermost border.
Description
This Jacquard, red, white, blue, and green double-cloth lap coverlet features a scalloped centerfield. “L. S. R. R. SLEEPING CAR” is woven into the innermost border. There is a large middle border made up of what appears to be a representation of the Michigan State Capitol building flanked by pairs of turkeys. The corners each feature a pair of deer—a buck and doe. The shorter ends of the middle border feature acorns and oak leaves and interconnected birds. The interconnected birds suggest an altered Jacquard punch-card set. There is fringe along the bottom edge. "L.S.R.R." stands for the Lakeshore and Southern Railway. The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, founded in 1833, developed into a conglomeration of other railroads in the Northern Ohio, Michigan region. The Cleveland, Painesville and Ashtabula Railroad (CP&ARR) would eventually be incorporated into that system. In 1868, the railroad leased the Cleveland and Toledo Railroad and renamed itself Lakeshore and Southern Railway. It is this time period in which this coverlet was woven for use in the sleeping cars of the railway’s passenger cars.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1860s-1870s
date made
after 1868
ID Number
TE.T12744
catalog number
T12744.000
accession number
240289

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.034
catalog number
033675.034
accession number
70138

Valenciennes Bobbin Lace Border

Valenciennes bobbin lace border. Belgium, middle of 19th century. Edges with machine made sewing edge and picot edge.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Valenciennes bobbin lace border. Belgium, middle of 19th century. Edges with machine made sewing edge and picot edge.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1840-1860
ID Number
TE.L6825B
catalog number
L6825.00A
accession number
49953

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.044
catalog number
033675.044
accession number
70138

Bedfordshire Bobbin Lace Collar

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850-1860
ID Number
2013.0121.48
accession number
2013.0121
catalog number
2013.0121.48

Afgan

A crocheted wool afghan embroidered in wool cross stitch floral motifs. The center has a spread eagle with shield, arrows, and a fruited branch, and the initials “TP” and “USA.” Made for Tattnall Paulding by one of his sisters during the Civil War.
Description
A crocheted wool afghan embroidered in wool cross stitch floral motifs. The center has a spread eagle with shield, arrows, and a fruited branch, and the initials “TP” and “USA.” Made for Tattnall Paulding by one of his sisters during the Civil War. Tattnall was born July 5, 1840 and at the outbreak of the Civil War was commissioned a First Lieutenant on May 14, 1861 and joined the New York regiment. He was captured at Gettysburg and spent nine months in Libby Prison in Richmond, VA. After being liberated he rejoined his regiment and resigned active duty July 1866. He died March 5, 1907. He was the grandfather of donor.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1863
ID Number
TE.T17764
catalog number
T17764.000
accession number
316364

1850 - 1860 Elizabeth Echternoch's "Whig Rose" Pieced and Appliqued Quilt

Family tradition claims that Elizabeth Echternoch was twelve years old when she crafted this pieced and appliqued quilt, a variation of the “Whig Rose” pattern.
Description
Family tradition claims that Elizabeth Echternoch was twelve years old when she crafted this pieced and appliqued quilt, a variation of the “Whig Rose” pattern. She lived in Kinzers (Lancaster County), Pennsylvania.
The floral sprigs in the border, leaves, stems and buds are all appliqued. The five large flowers were pieced and then appliqued. Red, blue, and white cottons were effectively used with a red/pink/white printed cotton to create a version of the popular red and green quilts of the time period. A frame for the design is achieved with blue piping inserted between the turned in front and lining of the quilt. Elaborate quilting, 8 – 9 stitches per inch, completes the quilt.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850-1860
maker
Echternoch, Elizabeth
ID Number
TE.T10046
accession number
142041
catalog number
T10046

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.042
catalog number
033675.042
accession number
70138

lace, collar

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca. 1860
ID Number
TE.T16251
catalog number
T16251.000
accession number
300957

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