Coverlet
1820-40
Medium
Cotton and wool, plain weave with supplementary wefts in composite point twill weave (star work, multiple shaft); two loom widths joined; edged with extended supplementary weft fringe
Dimensions
224.2 × 179.8 cm (88 1/4 × 70 3/4 in.); Repeat: 15.9 × 14.6 cm (6 1/4 × 5 3/4 in.)
Classification
weaving - coverlet
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
224028
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Star work coverlets such as this one and this one (AIC 2014.1165) are probably the work of German immigrant weaves in Pennsylvania between 1820 and 1840. Most of the weavers were anonymous, although there are a few instances in which individual practitioners are known and can be associated with particular technical features or pattern details.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...