Fragment of a 4-harness, overshot, coverlet weave: 'Richmond Beauty,' also known as "Royal Beauty" or "Youth & Beauty," in a block pattern formed with a fine cotton warp and green and red wool weft. Made in 1840 at Watertown, NY by Mrs.Orrin A Graves (mother of Mrs. Lydia Ann Wiliams), from yarns which she spun and colored.
Because of the donor, Mrs. Allen's, importance in teaching and preserving early handweaving, and the use of materials she collected in books on the subject, NMAH should keep the fragments she donated in the collection, as part of the national woven coverlet collection.