Coverlet, “Boston Town” Pattern

Birds in a nest feeding their young, flower-filled urns, and large sprigs of foliage alternate across the center of this handwoven coverlet, or bedcover. The border pattern, called “Boston Town,” is a mix of scenery—pagoda-shaped roofs, chimney-topped structures, and palm trees—that create a fanciful streetscape not found in Boston. Because looms were narrower than the width of a bed, coverlets were woven in two pieces and joined down the middle. Here, the weaver added a double border to increase the width. This coverlet was made for a Pennsylvania family, who brought it with them to southern Illinois.