Collection Highlights
Pierre Toussaint (ca. 1766-1853)
ca. 1825
1920.4
Watercolor on ivory
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Museum Collections
Decorative Arts
Coverlet
Object name
Coverlet
Date
1780-1830
Medium
Cotton
Dimensions
Overall: 128 x 116 x 1/2 in. ( 325.1 x 294.6 x 1.3 cm )
Description
Double-layered white cotton "Marseilles quilt" or coverlet; large circular floral medallion at center surrounded by pineapples, meandering flower sprays, and serpentine vines, within a scalloped border; serpentine vine with flower blossoms bordering edge.
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Bayard Verplanck
Object Number
1945.520
Gallery Label
Beginning in the latter half of the eighteenth century, weavers in Manchester, England, produced a double-layered woven cotton meant to resemble fine hand quilting. It was erroneously assumed that this type of cloth came from the French port of Marseilles, hence the term "Marseilles quilting." American merchants used Marseilles quilting for petticoats and men's summer waistcoats as well as ready-made coverlets. Marseilles quilts remained popular well into the nineteenth century.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
