How to contact Betsey Telford-Goodwin's Rocky Mountain Quilts:
Telephone - for orders or questions - 1-207-363-6800
FedEx - 130 York Street York, Maine 03909
Email - betsey@rmquilts.com
B36 Unused Pictorial Overshot Coverlet
Early 19th Century
83" + 5" fringe on bottom x 74" + 4" fringe both sides
Mt. Desert, Maine
$1,600
During the early part of the 19th century Americans were fascinated by
the Chinese culture, and loved their china, pottery, etc. Indigo was one
of their favorite colors, as it was and still is one of ours. The
intricacy of the design of this textile is just, to me, truly amazing. We
have intricate sceens of pagodas, birds feeding their babies nestled in
their nests, mansions, wreaths, urns overflowing with flowers and fruit.
One prominent item is the pineapple..symbolically representing 'welcome'.
All of this work had been executed using woolen finely homespun yarn.
True Indigo dye, such as used here, will not fade. Indigo is one of only
two vegatable dyes that are truly fade resistant. The pattern was
executed in a narrow loom whose width was approximately 45". The
finished strips were then sewn together with the same natural off white color
in linen.
Obviously this amazing coverlet, created for what must have been an
affluent family, was packed away for almost 200 years. New England gets
cold in the winter, and Northern Maine even colder than where I live in
Southern maine. There is nothing made from a natural fiber that is
warmer than wool. The fact that this woolen coverlet was packed away in
such a cold climate is another indication of the affluence of this
family, who did not need it to keep warm at night.
I am happy to send, with free shipping, this amazing coverlet for your
approval.
