Peter Stauffer overshot coverlet sample, early 1800s

Description:

Peter Stauffer was a professional weaver in Chester County, Pennsylvania in the early nineteenth century. He recorded payments for coverlets and tablecloths that he wove for local customers in his account book, dating between 1810 and 1831, (object number TE*T14233). This piece is a hemmed fragment of a larger coverlet in the “Star and Diamond” pattern, woven by Stauffer in red, dark blue and green wool with white cotton. Stauffer also wove small samples of different coverlet patterns to advertise his skills and help customers select designs; one of these was also acquired by the museum. According to his accounts, by the later 1820s Stauffer made fewer coverlets, likely losing this business to the coverlets with realistic floral and other complex patterns produced on the newly popular, mechanized, jacquard looms. In 1812, Stauffer married Suzanna Hartz. The family soon switched professions, working as carpet weavers and later in iron foundries.