Harry Tyler; coverlet; Figured and Fancy, double-cloth; 1845; New York

Description:

Harry Tyler (1801-1858) wove this red and white, Figured and Fancy, double-cloth coverlet for Cynthia Walker in Oswego County, New York in 1845. The centerfield design features a double floral and starburst design with a “Fence and Tree” border along three sides. . The lower corners feature an American eagle with a shield, and twenty-three stars, a known Harry Tyler trademark. The name of the client, Cynthia Walker, the place, Oswego Co., N.Y., and the date 1845, are woven beneath the eagle and shield trademark. Cynthia Walker was the donor’s paternal grandmother. This coverlet measures 84 inches by 82.5 inches and was constructed of two panels woven as one length, cut, and sewn together with a center seam.

Tyler was born in Connecticut, moving to New York sometime around 1834. Harry Tyler married three times to Anne Cole, Harriet A. Dye, and Mary A. Tyler. His son with Anne, Elman Tyler (1829-1909) was also a coverlet weaver and wove coverlets in the same pattern as his father even after Harry’s death in 1858. The details of Harry Tyler’s life are a bit of a mystery. There are over 300 coverlets attributed to Tyler, but very little documentary evidence of his business activity or life. The Jefferson County Historical Society is fortunate to have over 40 Harry Tyler coverlets in its collection. They also included this information about the death of Harry Tyler, which has evaded scholars for decades. Harry Tyler died August 22,1858 at the age of 57 after suffering a stroke and is buried in Smithville Cemetery, Jefferson County, New York.