Woven Tied Beiderwand Coverlet
DateProbably ca. 1870
Artist/Maker
Henry F. Stager
ca. 1820-1888
MediumRed, dark blue, and lime green wools with white cotton (no fibers microscopically analyzed as of 10/31/91)
DimensionsSide 1 (top/bottom shirttail hems turned under): Rhand side 81" excluding irreg. fringe and 83 1/2" including fringe. Bottom 77 1/2" excluding fringe and 83" including fringe.
Credit LineGift of Mr. & Mrs. Foster McCarl, Jr.
Object number1991.609.13
DescriptionThis is a tied Beiderwand woven seamless coverlet in lime green, dark blue, and red wools with white cotton. The coverlet is self-fringed at sides with the lower fringe formed by loops of weft wools pulled through coverlet. The centerfield design consists of a large central medallion composed of a grapevine enclosing a simple foliage wreath and, in the center, a flower. Spread eagles fill each of the four corners of the centerfield. All four sides show the same border: large tassels alternating with swags over a small repeat of squares. Each of the four corner blocks contains the same design: a bird with a fruit in its beak perches on a branch and looks back over his tail. Woven backwards and forwards into the lower border is "MADE + BY + H + STAGER + MOUNT JOY/LANCASTER + C= + PA + FAST + COLOR + NO - 1".Provenanceca. 1870, made by Henry F. Stager (Mount Joy, PA); unknown date, unknown owner; prior to 1991, Foster McCarl Jr. and Muriel Phillips McCarl (Beaver Falls, PA); 1991, given to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA)
