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Image Not Available for Bed Rug
Bed Rug
Image Not Available for Bed Rug

Bed Rug

EmbroidererEmbroidered by Esther Lyman American, 1750 - 1828
Date1771
MediumHand-embroidered wool on a plain-woven wool ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 88 x 80 1/2in. (223.5 x 204.5cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of John T. Whitman
DescriptionBed rug made of cut-loop embroidered green, light and dark blue, yellow, cream, gold, and undyed wool on a plain-woven wool background. The pattern includes a large, roughly diamond-shaped area above the center of the bed rug, filled in with a group of four flowers. An oversized flower is embroidered to each side and below the diamond. These three oversized flowers have vines, sprays of blue leaves, and cream and gold tulips extending from each side, filling the corners of the bed rug. The background is blue and various shades of green. The initials and date "EL/ 1771" are embroidered at the top of the bed rug. The ground fabric is plain-woven with a horizontal stripe; it consists of at least three separate panels that are stitched together. The bottom corners of the bed rug are curved.

Condition: The embroidered wool has faded or disintegrated in many areas. The ground is exposed or has holes in several areas. The background and center of many flowers have been significantly filled in with later wool. The ground is reinforced with heavy canvas around each edge and across significant portions of the pattern.
Object number1963.8.1
Subject Terms
    On View
    Not on view
    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, 1962.28.2d,e,g  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connectic…
    Prudence Geer
    about 1770
    Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1962.28.2c  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut H…
    Punderson family
    1795-1815
    Wholecloth Quilt
    Mercy Copp
    embroidered 1775-1800, quilted 1800-1825
    Gift of John T. Whitman, 1963.8.2  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut Histor…
    Esther Lyman
    1730-1760
    Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1962.28.2b  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Connecticut H…
    Prudence Geer
    about 1770
    The Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund,  2002.40.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © 2009 The Con…
    Denison Family
    1740-1760
    The Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund, 2011.504.0  © 2013 The Connecticut Historical Society.
    Elizabeth Mason
    1780
    Gift of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, 1964.35.0  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth.  © …
    Elizabeth Swan
    1761-1778
    Gift of Mrs. Norman R. Spring, 1959.53.1  Photograph by Gavin Ashworth  © 2008 The Connecticut …
    Thankful Stanton
    1820