William Van Gordon (b. 1824), Woven Coverlet for Mariah Deal, 1853

Wool and cotton, 19th century, Biederwand weave with wool wefts on cotton warps, in a floral design known as rosebud and diamond window, with pinwheel blossom borders, in stripes of berry red, tan, and dark navy blue, woven in two halves and joined to center, signed to corners "Mariah / Deal's / coverlet. / WM.H.Van- / Gordon. / weaver / Covington / Miami. Co. / Ohio 1853."

William H. Van Gordon was known to weave coverlets in Miami County, Ohio between the years of 1848-1853, and rosebud and diamond window is one of only three known patterns he used, in a variety of colorways. For each pattern, a set of punch cards was used to produce the specific design while weaving on the loom. This coverlet would have been commissioned by the buyer, Mariah Deal, and was thus woven with her name in the corner, but Van Gordon made many coverlets without a patron's name, and likely traveled around Ohio selling them. One such coverlet by Van Gordon of this same design is included in the collection of the Denver Art Museum.

Loss to ends and edges; discoloration.

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