Fancy weavers, many of them recent emigrants from Ireland, Scotland, England, and Germany, introduced complex weave structures and loom technology to America early in the nineteenth century. Their knowledge of the complicated weaving techniques used for carpet weaving was adapted to "bed carpets" or "carpet coverlets," which featured two layers of cloth woven simultaneously. Double-cloth coverlets in geometric patterns were popular throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, parts of New England, and eastern Canada, but examples that include names and dates woven into the borders seem to have been a regional preference found on New York's Long Island.

The coverlet woven for Ann Carll is the earliest known American coverlet that is named and dated in the border. It is attributed to the Mott family of weavers, Quakers who worked in the Long Island town of Westbury. Several of the twenty-one extant named and dated double-cloth coverlets produced between 1810 and 1825 were made by the Motts. The name "Ann Carll" appears clearly twice—at the center and at the bottom of a single border. The date March 31, 1810, can be read at the center and at the top. In between, the name and date appear to be stretched out and are illegible. This distortion occurs because of the manner in which the threads are grouped and tied together to make the blocks for the name and date.

Stacy C. Hollander, "Ann Carll Coverlet: Blazing Star and Snowballs," in American Anthem: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum (New York: Harry N. Abrams in association with American Folk Art Museum, 2001), 307.
 

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.　

To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org