Quilts, Coverlets, and Counterpanes: Bedcoverings from the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts and Old Salem Collections [Paperback]

Paula W. Locklair (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 24, 1997

The bedcoverings in the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) and Old Salem collections cannot be described by one term alone. This book features thirty-nine quilts, coverlets, and counterpanes—most of which were made and used in the South—that represent the richness and variety of bedcoverings from the late eighteenth century through the nineteenth.

Early bedcoverings can be studied from a variety of perspectives, including those gleaned from such documents as newspapers, wills and inventories, and family histories. In an introduction to this beautifully illustrated catalogue, Paula W. Locklair explores what bedcoverings were called, the techniques and fabrics used to make them, and their value in the households of the period. Whether embroidered, patchwork, appliquŽd, or woven, the bedcoverings highlighted here offer new insights into the lives, talents, and imaginations of American women in the early South.

Old Salem encompasses the restored Moravian town of Salem and MESDA, the only museum devoted to the decorative arts of the early South. Both are located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A welcome addition to the continuing development of scholarship in American quilts.

Winterthur Portfolio

[Helps] readers to envision the lives and experiences of those who created these fabric masterpieces.

Georgia Historical Quarterly

[V]ery readable text and lovely photographs.

Piecework

From the Inside Flap

Illustrates and discusses 39 quilts, coverlets, and counterpanes from the collections of Old Salem and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, both in Winston-Salem, NC.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press (November 24, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879704048
• ISBN-13: 978-1879704046
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,531,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful and informative, August 15, 2005

By 

E Rice (western ny state) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Quilts, Coverlets, and Counterpanes: Bedcoverings from the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts and Old Salem Collections (Paperback)

although this is not a huge book, it contains a wonderful collection of late 18th through 19th century bdecoverings, from woven to embroidered to quilted. the examples are generally beautiful as well as historically interesting.

the introduction is brief but informative, defining the various terms used for bedcovers over time and including fascinating evidence of the value owners put on their textiles. there are also short biographies for the makers of some of the bedcovers, and even portraits in whatever medium was contemporary. also included are a few photos of textile tools, some handwritten weavers' draughts (and cloth woven from them), and a handwritten notebook for embroidery stitches.

the only drawback for me is the book's brevity--i wanted more, more history and biography, and details of the bedcovers, more of the collection.

quilters, weavers, those interested in textile and social history will find this book informative, enjoyable and inspiring.