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Coverlet

Curated Submission
Place
Petersburg, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada
Date
19th to early 20th century
DIMENSIONS in centimetres
250 x 188
Materials & techniques
Cotton, wool; Jacquard woven
Credit
Gift of Dr. Howard Gorman
ID
Textile Museum of Canada T91.0072
The first jacquard coverlet was woven in Ontario in 1834, and jacquard weaving rapidly replaced the handsome indigo and white hand-woven double-cloth coverlets. The jacquard mechanism could be mounted on a loom to create realistic patterns of flowers, birds, hearts, stars, and other motifs. From 1834 until the early 20th century, there were approximately 30 trained weavers of German and Scottish background in Ontario who produced these coverlets. Production was large; a jacquard coverlet was a treasured possession that would last a lifetime, and a prized showpiece of a bride’s trousseau.
 
This beautiful example features poinsettia flowers with a floral wreath in the corner square. It was woven in two panels and sewn with a centre seam. The width was determined by the reach of the weaver, who had to throw the shuttle with one hand and catch it with the other. Although it is unsigned, it was probably woven in the workshop of the Noll brothers (William and John) in Petersburg, Ontario, who were active between 1871 and 1905.
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