Dennis Mills 2024 donation coverlet #28

Woven Textile

Mississippi Valley Textile Museum

2024.1.28

Photo provided by Dennis Mills

Name/Title

Dennis Mills 2024 donation coverlet #28

Entry/Object ID

2024.1.28

Description

Dennis Mills 2024 donation coverlet #28 Transcription notes: Overshot Coverlet 1860-75 Unknown weaver Probably Lincoln Co. “Sea Star” pattern This is a visually striking optical pattern in red wool weft on a white cotton ground. It is unusual since it does not have the expected centre seam. This weaver had a wide loom perhaps with a flying shuttle or partner to create the uninterrupted full width coverlet. It is a real beauty!! Ref. #350 Keep Me Warm One Night, Burnhams 1972, 964.19, p. 257 in the ROM collection. Clearly the work of the same weaver with a wide double loom. The pattern is identical but the colours are different. Also Quilts and Other Bedcoverings – R. McKendry #92. Condition: Excellent in every way. Source: Odessa Antiques Show Aug 11, 2018. $130? inc tax R. Carruth Antiques, Fenelon Falls, Ontario. Dimensions: 81 ½” (207 cm) l. x 72” (183 cm) w. Where were these coverlets woven. My red example was found in a Stouffville auction c. 2017 and the ROM example was found in Louth or Clinton Counties, Lincoln County. My guess is they both were made in Lincoln and my example travelled over time. It is one of a rare group of no seam full width overshots in the collection. This is clearly an early example with intricate knotted fringe and the “feel” of an early coverlet. Could be even earlier than 1860.

Use

coverlet

Collection

Dennis Mills Collection

Cataloged By

Rob Childs

Made/Created

Artist

unidentified weaver

Time Period

C. 1860-1875 though could be earlier

Place

* Untyped Place

Probably Lincoln County, Ontario (between Hamilton and Niagara Falls)

Location

Canada

Woven Textile Details

Textile Shape

No centre seam

Notes

“Sea Star” pattern

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Coverlet

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Bedcover

Nomenclature Class

Bedding

Nomenclature Category

Category 02: Furnishings

Dimensions

Width

183 cm

Length

207 cm

Color

Red, White

Location

Shelf

Rolled Storage

Room

Rolled Storage Room

Building

M.V.T.M.

Moved By

Piper Patterson

Date

February 19, 2026

Location

Room

N.R.H. Gallery

Building

M.V.T.M.

Moved By

Sadie Badour

Date

October 19, 2025

Location

* Untyped Location

Temporary Artifact Storage Room

Date

November 27, 2024

Created By

[email protected]

Create Date

November 27, 2024

Updated By

[email protected]

Update Date

May 13, 2026