Historic Americana
Jacquard Coverlet Signed “David Steiner Brecknock Township Lancaster County Patent" of Pennsylvania
c. 1850, Pennsylvania Woven Wool and Cotton, Jacquard Coverlet, made by “David Steiner Brecknock Township Lancaster County Patent,” Choice Extremely Fine.
This lovely 75.75” x 83,” Jacquard Coverlet is inscribed, “Made by “David Steiner Brecknock Township Lancaster County Patent.” Brecknock Township is on the northeastern edge of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This two panel work consists of a variation of the "Double Rose" pattern, enclosed by a "Grapevine" border, signed in each lower corner block. This coverlet is woven in red, light blue, navy and white, with red, light blue and navy wool fringe on the sides and bottom, and the top hemmed in white. There is some minor discoloration and separation of the two panels at the seam and some trivial loss of red fringe to two sides. Overall this magnificent 150 year old coverlet is quite bright, colorful and attractive.
Joseph Jacquard (1752-1834) recognized that weaving, although an intricate and delicate task, was highly repetitive task. He believed that the weaving of complex patterns could be automated. He conceived a system that relied on stiff, pasteboard cards with various patterns of punched holes. At each throw of the shuttle a card was placed in the path of the rods. The pattern of holes in the card determined which rods could pass through, and thus acted as a program for the loom. This control system allowed for flexibility and various levels of complexity in the patterns.