Figured and Fancy; tied-Beiderwand (overall production method/technique)
cotton, wool (overall material)
red, blue, green, white (overall color)
Object Name:
coverlet, figured
Place made:
United States: Pennsylvania, Nescopeck
Date made:
1842
Description:
Daniel Goodman (b. 1800) wove this red, blue, and green, tied-Beiderwand coverlet for J. and M. Keen in Nescopeck, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in 1842. The centerfield features a typical carpet medallion pattern composed of eight-point stars and stylized starburst motifs. The three borders depict the addorsed, German Distelfinken (thistle finches) flanked by rose bushes and Hom (Germanic tree of life). The cornerblocks read, “MADE.BY./DANIEL/GOODMAN/NESCOPECK/LUZERNECO/FOR/J.ANDM./KEEN/PENN.1842.” The donor's mother's maiden name was Keen. It is possible that the coverlet was made for Jacob Keen (1798-1862) and his wife Magdalena (1796-1886). This coverlet has no center seam, indicating that Goodman was using a broad loom to weave his coverlets and was possibly involved in early factory production in Luzerne County.
Daniel Goodman was from family of Pennsylvania coverlet weavers. His father, Peter (b. 1783) was also a weaver as was Daniel’s son, John S. Goodman (b. 1820). Daniel Goodman’s extant coverlets date from 1841-1844. Daniel had presumably been weaving twenty years prior, but may not have been able to invest in new pattern weaving technology until the 1840s. Rather than being able to order equipment, patented loom technology was sold via licensing and franchise agreements with the patent holder(s).
Credit Line:
Gift of Mrs. Ruth A. Evans in memory of Pearl and Richard Evans
