Skip to main content
Ann Carll Coverlet: Blazing Star and Snowballs
Attributed to the Mott Mill
Photographed by Sc…
Ann Carll Coverlet: Blazing Star and Snowballs
Ann Carll Coverlet: Blazing Star and Snowballs
Attributed to the Mott Mill
Photographed by Sc…
Ann Carll Coverlet: Blazing Star and Snowballs Attributed to the Mott Mill Photographed by Schecter Lee
Record Details

Ann Carll Coverlet: Blazing Star and Snowballs

Artist ((act. 1810–c. 1850))
Date1810
Place/RegionWestbury, New York, United States
MediumIndigo-dyed wool, natural cotton
Dimensions93 × 79"
Credit LineGift of Margot Paul Ernst in memory of Susan B. Ernst
Accession number1989.16.11
CopyrightThe American Folk Art Museum believes this work to be in the public domain.
Description

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.

Artist unidentified, “Crocheted Rug,” Possibly Watervliet, New York or Maine, 1880–1900, Hand-d…
Artist unidentified
1880–1900
1985.21.1
Deborah Goldsmith Throop (1808–1836), “Portrait of Richard Goldsmith, Father of the Artist”, Ma…
Artist unidentified
1833
2021.16.4
Reflection
Kathyanne White
Photo by Gavin Ashworth
Kathyanne White
2001
2003.11.1
Susan's Saskatchewan Garden
Susan M. Clark
Photographer unidentified
Susan M. Clark
1991
1991.9.5
Artist unidentified,  “Vortex Quilt”, Found in Pennsylvania, 1940 - 1950, Antique Japanese fabr…
Artist unidentified
1940 - 1950
1992.14.1
Coastal Schooner Seat Cover
Artist unidentified
Photo by Adam Reich
Artist unidentified
c. 1935–1945
2016.17.1
Grenfell Mat: Bill Anderson's Cove, Harrington Harbor
Artist unidentified, designed by Alice C…
Artist unidentified, designed by Alice Cox (1909–1973)
c. 1950s
2016.17.2
Sampler
Mary Hogan Mills
Photographer unidentified
Mary Hogan Mills
1782
1978.30.6
TGIF Booklet
George Widener
Photographed by Gavin Ashworth
George Widener
2003
2008.10.2
Sarah Ann Garges Appliqué Bedcover
Sarah Ann Garges
Photo by Schecter Lee
Sarah Ann Garges
1853
1988.21.1
Missouri Bridal Crazy Quilt
May Dodge Harper
Photo by John Parnell
May Dodge Harper
1900
1985.23.1