Name/Title
Dennis Mills 2024 donation coverlet #13Entry/Object ID
2024.1.13Description
Dennis Mills 2024 donation coverlet #13
Transcription notes:
Overshot Coverlet c. 1870
Ref. Keep Me Warm One Night Burnhams #325
Unidentified weaver from Whitechurch, Bruce Co.
“Freemason’s Felicity” variation pattern
This excellent overshot coverlet speaks of quality in many categories. The condition is
exceptional as “new”. It was found many years ago in Kincardine, Bruce County, not far
from Whitechurch where several other terrific examples have originated. It certainly
appears to be the work of an unidentified mid-19 th century weaver who located to Bruce
County once settlement occurred in the 1850s. The county was settled by many Scots –
probably the origin of the weaver. It is documented that some weavers from the Ontario
lakefront moved north for new markets after the Grand Trunk Railway came
through in 1856 – bringing access to woven textiles from the industrial mills of Europe,
[illegible], and large Canadian centres.
The coverlet is woven with red wool for the weft on a semi bleached natural cotton
warp. This example has reduced wheels in a variation of “Freemason’s Felicity”. It is
very similar to #325 KMWON in the ROM collection. This example has a [illegible but
could be ‘fixed’] field/table repeats with no border variation. It never spent any time on a
bed.
Condition: Excellent including long knotted cotton fringes on the bottom and sides.
Source: Kincardine, Ontario antique shop @1980. It had been previously purchased
from the family of the Kincardine police chief.
Dimensions: 84” (214 cm) l. x 70” (178 cm) w. Fringes 5” (13 cm) long.Collection
Dennis Mills CollectionCataloged By
Rob ChildsMade/Created
Artist
unidentified weaverTime Period
C. 1870Place
* Untyped Place
Whitechurch, Bruce County, OntarioLocation
CanadaWoven Textile Details
Notes
“Freemason’s Felicity” variation patternLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
CoverletNomenclature Primary Object Term
BedcoverNomenclature Class
BeddingNomenclature Category
Category 02: FurnishingsDimensions
Width
178 cmLength
214 cmDimension Notes
collector states fringe is 13 cm longLocation
Location
Shelf
Rolled StorageRoom
Rolled Storage RoomBuilding
M.V.T.M.Moved By
Piper PattersonDate
February 19, 2026Location
Room
N.R.H. GalleryBuilding
M.V.T.M.Category
ExhibitMoved By
Sadie BadourDate
October 19, 2025Location
* Untyped Location
Temporary Artifact Storage RoomDate
November 20, 2024Create Date
November 20, 2024Update Date
May 13, 2026
