Coverlets

[Frederick14Va]

Once upon a time an item commonly found in many households was the hand weaved coverlet. Basically a coverlet is a bed cover. Many different patterns and styles existed. Many patterns were regionally influenced. These were popular from the late colonial well into the latter Victorian era. During some periods in the Civil War era, deficiency in available woolen blankets to southern troops spawned their use being carried into the field. Some images of Confederate dead, and various written accounts have revealed their presence. About 15-20 years ago it became popular with reenactors to also sport and carry one, both originals, vintage, and reproductions.

One of my collectable vices is the fondness of these old coverlets, and have massed quite a collection of them. Most are unmarked but occasionally we will stumble across one that has a name and/or date woven into the design. Recently obtained one at an auction and didnt realize it was actually dated til later. A bit unusual is the arrangement of the date on this one, instead of the date being placed in a line, its separated into quadrants. The opposite side is a reversed mirror image of the other, hence the color pattern is opposite, the date is also visible on both sides. Also not uncommon to have half the letters/numbers to be divided and "positive" on one side, but others reversed. In this case the "5" and "7" are correct on the lighter side, and the "1" and "8" positive on the other side. Also was not unusual in that era to inscribe items much differently than what one would expect it to be today. That in mind someone raised the question of is the date "1875" or "1857" ?

 

[Eleanor Rose]

This is fascinating @Frederick14Va ! The coverlet you posted is lovely. I'm sure you have some other lovelies in your collection. Thanks for sharing! Please post other pics if the notion strikes you.

 

[Frederick14Va]

This is fascinating @Frederick14Va ! The coverlet you posted is lovely. I'm sure you have some other lovelies in your collection. Thanks for sharing! Please post other pics if the notion strikes you.

Will do... need to dig them all out and determine exactly how many of them I now have (I might not want to know)... All have been picked up at auctions. All are original except one (FHW Reproduction), and based on research span the 1820-1870 era.
May desire to gather them all up and make a group pic shot of them all... Then also might be scary to realize how many Ive got...lol...

Long time research into the material culture, and not just Militaria.. Besides soldiers were civilians before they became soldiers, so those that desire to portray same should at least have a basic understanding of vocations and the civilian life they came from.

 

[lelliott19]

@Frederick14Va I'm so glad you're back posting here! Ive REALLY missed you!

I dont have any old coverlets but Ive got a few old clocks. I might post pics of some of them in your other thread.

 

[Frederick14Va]

@Frederick14Va I'm so glad you're back posting here! Ive REALLY missed you!

I dont have any old coverlets but Ive got a few old clocks. I might post pics of some of them in your other thread.

The honor is all mine... I think you've held your own here quite nicely. Quite impressed at how far you have progressed.
As youve likely seen on my FB page I tend to have quite a wide range of historical interests and fields of study... Only post those here that may apply. Some areas outside of militaria that are a bit more focused than others of the era; textiles, coverlets, clocks, cookwares, woodworking, boxes/crates, chairs, furniture, and lighting of all sorts...

 

[lelliott19]

I think you've held your own here quite nicely.

Thanks, but when half of the dynamic duo is absent, it's just not been the same. You were my very first CWT "HERO." Remember back when I was a newby and you ID'd this image for me? https://civilwartalk.com/threads/im...-york-volunteer-infantry.110372/#post-1063668 I'm still amazed by that! A lady from the St. Lawrence County NY Historical Association posted in the thread in June 2015 and the great grandson contacted me through Find-A-Grave in March 2019. All of them wish to express sincere appreciation for your ID of the image.

 

[Mike Serpa]

1578!

 

[Frederick14Va]

1578!

Your not the first one to have said that either.... If it was really that old Id have something of high value !!!... Ive posted this question on some other venues, and based on the design type and materials used majority think its 1857... but about a third ponder it being 1875...

 

[JOHN42768]

I would lean to 1875. Normal clock direction

 

[donna]

Beautiful coverlet. I remember my aunt had several.

 

[Frederick14Va]

I would lean to 1875. Normal clock direction

The date is visible on both sides.. the color weave is opposites... Hence this one has a light side (predominately white), and a dark side (predominately blue)... doesnt really have a top/bottom, either side would work.. So when flipped over it would have to be read counterclock wise to read it as 1875... Thats part of the confusing pondering of many, since it doesnt really follow what we would normally expect.

 

[Mrs. V]

Regardless of the date, it is very pretty.

 

[Lubliner]

Remaining consistent with diagonal 1 and diagonal 2, it is read left to right as 1857. IMHO.
Lubliner.

 

[scone]

I gave two to my niece for her wedding present .. I had photos cant find 1860s pre or post war do not know

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

1857 would be my guess, too? It's just a guess based on a few of these old treasures passed down in my mother's family.

Those things are surprisingly warm, even warmer than the old cotton quilts with a ton of batting. It's quite wonderful- feel free to share more!

 

[Frederick14Va]

1857 would be my guess, too? It's just a guess based on a few of these old treasures passed down in my mother's family.

Those things are surprisingly warm, even warmer than the old cotton quilts with a ton of batting. It's quite wonderful- feel free to share more!

Indeed they are. I have several that I routinely use. These are mostly of the overshot - geometric weave pattern style, which is the most common type usually encountered. Some are fairly light weight that are nice since they offer a degree of warmth but they also breathe some so you dont usually get overheated. Others are a heavier tighter weave that can give a bit more. Then you get into the double weave's that tend to be much more heftier, well suited for cooler climates or even an arctic expedition...lol.

Coverlets tend to be classified or defined by the type of weave and pattern that was used, and like quilts there are endless array of variations and patterns. Some of these patterns also can reflect regional differences. The looms that were used were comparatively narrow. Hence it is common to find especially with the older ones that a given coverlet has several woven panels that were hand stitched together side by side to make one large enough to cover a bed. The golden era of the coverlet began being displaced by the increasing popularity of hand stitched quilts, which didnt require especial looms to make one with.

The coverlet in the OP above would be considered a "Double Weave - Jacquard" type.

 

[scone]

Ok found one

 

[Frederick14Va]

Ok found one

View attachment 323179

Nice "overshot" geometic weave coverlet.

Blue/white, Blue/natural-cream habitually tend to be the most common that were used. Occasionally will come across some that use Red/White, or a mix. Usually just two, but sometimes will find three colors used. Some will be found using vibrant colors, others with darker more earthy hues.

There were folks that made these as their vocation, since not many had the looms required to make them. Many had their own created or collection of patterns that they would use. Some would even trade "recipes" of sorts of the patterns they came up with to share with others. Many are quite similar but rarely exactly the same and each one a bit unique to itself, that made these even more interesting. I have lots, and none thus far are identical matches, each a little different.

 

[Frederick14Va]

As mentioned these were fairly common and well known to many during the Civil War era. We find accounts particularly of southern soldiers occasionally making use of them when woolen blankets were scarce to obtain. Usually did well for warmth, but not so well in adverse weather and rain conditions since they were mostly made of cotton. Cotton tended to absorb and hang onto rainwater rather than quickly drain off and shed it like a woolen blanket would usually do. Hence frequently was a temporary make do item more commonly noted during the earlier war period. Occasionally will find them turn up in images of battlefield dead that further confirms their use in the field at least to some limited degree.

 

[scone]

As mentioned these were fairly common and well known to many during the Civil War era. We find accounts particularly of southern soldiers occasionally making use of them when woolen blankets were scarce to obtain. Usually did well for warmth, but not so well in adverse weather and rain conditions since they were mostly made of cotton. Cotton tended to absorb and hang onto rainwater rather than quickly drain off and shed it like a woolen blanket would usually do. Hence frequently was a temporary make do item more commonly noted during the earlier war period. Occasionally will find them turn up in images of battlefield dead that further confirms their use in the field at least to some limited degree.
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