Runner (Table runner)

Description

This cotton table runner was probably woven in the first half of the 20th century. It is machine-woven, but has handsewn hems on all four sides and featherstitching with white yarn at the inside of the border. It has an overshot spot woven design which creates vertical ridges and weft floats in tiny square patterns. This table runner is the lone 20th century object from Helen D. Young’s collection of textiles from the northeastern United States, all but this one handwoven and made 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.