Tablecloth

Description

This tablecloth was woven in New England during the early 19th century. It is believed to have been made or owned by a Lucy Estes of New Hampshire, though small initials embroidered near one edge read “A. W.” The tablecloth has a linen warp and cotton weft, and is comprised of two panels sewn together along the center seam. Cotton fringe is attached to all four edges, though much of it is now missing. This tablecloth 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.