TEXTILES IN TIME (2009)

Coverlets were woven in the Unites States in the 18th and 19th centuries for use as bedcoverings but they also served as decoration for homes that were sometimes simple one or two room dwellings. Jim Ray, University of Missouri alum and former Director of the Albrecht-Kemper Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri, recognized their cultural significance and appreciated the interesting interplays of color and design of 19th century hand-woven overshot and jacquard coverlets. He began collecting them at estate sales and auctions within a 50-mile radius of St. Joseph, Missouri.

Some of the coverlets included in this exhibition were woven by professional weavers who operated cottage industries in their home or in small shops. Most, however, were made after manufactured cloth became available for family clothing, releasing women to weave more creative textiles than the plain and plaid fabrics needed for garments. All were created with the overshot weave structure which is a four-harness weave using twill patterns in a supplementary weft to form a wide variety of patterns. View the exhibition catalog or click on the images below to learn more about the artifacts included in this exhibition.

Textiles in Time: The James Ray Coverlet Collection Exhibition Catalog (PDF)

Click images to learn more. Historical and donor information will appear.

Exhibition Images