Runner (Table runner)

Description

The distinctive style of the motifs embroidered on this linen table runner identify it as Pennsylvania German. Along with the trees and hearts motifs, there is also an embroidered name, “Elisabeth Hollinger,” and a date, “1797.” Hollinger may have woven, embroidered, or owned this table runner, or some combination of the three. Along with the name Elisabeth Hollinger, the letters “I” and “N” are embroidered at the end of two lines. Their meaning is unclear, but they may have been intended to spell “in,” as in “Done by Elisabeth Hollinger in 1797.” This table runner comes from Helen D. Young’s collection of handwoven textiles made in the northeastern United States before 1900. Young (1894-1983) was a prominent weaver, teacher, author, and collector of coverlets. Her collection, now at Winterthur (2017.0019.051.001 - .038), contains a diverse variety of weave structures, reflecting Young’s interest in structure and regional variation, as well as her understanding of textiles as an art form. This object is one of a large group transferred to Winterthur from the American Textile History Museum when it closed in 2017. The Winterthur Library also received a significant amount of material from ATHM, including the Laura M. Allen weaving draft collection, which was previously acquired by Marguerite Porter Davison and then Helen D. Young.