Skip to main content
Gift of Mrs. Norman R. Spring, 1959.53.1  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth  © 2008 The Connecticut …
Candlewick Bed Covering
Gift of Mrs. Norman R. Spring, 1959.53.1 Photograph by Gavin Ashworth © 2008 The Connecticut Historical Society.
Photographs and all rights purchased by the Connecticut Historical Society.

Candlewick Bed Covering

Embroiderer (American, 1774 - 1861)
Date1820
MediumEmbroidery; cotton yarn (two-ply), cotton thread and silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 110 1/2 x 102 1/2in. (280.7 x 260.4cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Norman R. Spring
DescriptionCandlewick bed covering, consisting of a single layer of plain-woven linen decorated with embroidered two-ply cotton yarn; the bed covering is embroidered with the name "Thankful Williams" at the top and the date "1820" at the bottom. The candlewick decoration consists of a basket of flowers in the center; large fanciful flowers extend from the basket, covering a large area in the center of the bedcovering. At each corner is a cornucopia, also with large flowers and fruit extending onto the bedcovering. Each side of the bed covering has a border of embroidered leaves.

The plain-woven cotton ground is constructed of two panels that are hand-stitched together at the center; the selvedge of each panel is at the center of the bed covering. All four edges of the ground are folded under and finished with a whip stitch; the embroidered border extends onto the 7/8-inch hem. The candlewick design is formed with a running stitch; additional stitches include seed and darning. The letters "LTi" are hand-stitched in pink silk threads onto the lower left corner of the bedcovering; these letters are formed using cross stitch (over two).

Condition: The ground and embroidery have stained in very specific patterns: across the top edge, up and down each panel, and in an arch around the lower left and right corners. The ground has scattered rust spots and small areas of splits and tears. Small areas of the ground are repaired with darning stitches, specifically at the bottom left center edge.
Object number1959.53.1
On View
Not on view
Gift of Mrs. Ruth M. Hoskins, 1965.29.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth © 2008 The Connecticut Hi…
Susannah Courtney
1825
Gift of Mrs. Howard B. Haylett, 1960.27.2  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth  © 2008 The Connecticut…
Unknown
early 19th century
Gift of Mrs. Thomas Archibald, 1985.20.27  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth © 2008 The Connecticut …
Polly Atkins
early 19th century
The Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund,  2002.40.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Con…
Denison Family
1740-1760
Gift of Miss Jessie A. Parsons, 1954.31.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth  © 2008 The Connecticut…
Esther M. C. Peck
1824
Gift of George H. Gilman, Jr., 1983.101.3  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth © 2008 The Connecticut …
Rhoda Goodrich
1810-1817
Gift of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, 1964.35.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © …
Elizabeth Swan
1761-1778
Wholecloth Quilt
Mercy Copp
embroidered 1775-1800, quilted 1800-1825
Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1962.28.2d,e,g  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connectic…
Prudence Geer
about 1770
1959.56.0, Gift of Mrs. J. H. K. Davis. © 2008 The Connecticut Historical Society.
Elizabeth Foote
probably 1778
The Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund, 2003.6.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Conne…
Lorrain Collins
1786
Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1962.28.2b  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut H…
Prudence Geer
about 1770