About This Artwork

Woven by Jonathan Garber
American, active 1839–1843
United States, Maryland, Frederick County

Coverlet, 1839

Cotton and wool, plain weave with plain interlacings of secondary binding warps and supplementary patterning wefts (tied double cloth) and main warp and extended supplementary patterning weft cut fringe; possibly woven on loom with Jacquard attachment; two loom widths joined
270.1 x 206.4 cm (106 3/8 x 81 1/4 in.)
Warp repeat: 40.3 cm (15 7/8 in.)
Inscription (in mirror image in bottom corner blocks): JONATHAN GARBER, FREDERICK CO. MD. 1839; (in mirror image above bottom border): NO MAN CAN BETTER IT JOHN ZEE & MARGARET PICKET
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Alsdorf, 1980.684

Exhibition, Publication and Ownership Histories

Exhibition History

The Art Institute of Chicago, Agnes Allerton Gallery, "Coverlets from the Permanent Collection," April 4 - July 5, 1981

The Art Institute of Chicago, Elizabeth F. Cheney and Agnes Allerton Textile Galleries, "The Woven Coverlet - An Expression of Treasured America"
March 1–July 23, 2000

Publication History

Katzenberg, Dena S. The Great American Cover-up: Counterpane of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1971. No. 69, ill. p. 45 (similar borders) from Pennsylvania, 1842.

Montgomery, Pauline. Indiana Coverlet Weavers and Their Coverlets. Indianapolis, Hoosier Heritage Press, 1974. Ill. p. 104 (similar) woven by John Wissler; Ill. p. 60 left (similar) woven by John Huber, Jackson Township, Dearborn Co., Indiana.




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