Handwoven Coverlet c. 1937

Maud M. Holme wove this textile with a dove carrying an olive branch, plus flowers, and a radiating sun motif. I can imagine her setting up the loom. It's such a process. Winding the thread onto the bobbin, choosing the colours, setting up the warp. Was she thinking about peace when she chose the dove? Or was it more about the way the image could be woven into the cloth, the way the lines would flow? What's the relationship between utility and beauty? The overall effect is soft, almost faded, like an old photograph, or a memory. Look how the different patterns are arranged, how the circular design abuts the square edge of the coverlet. There is something so appealing in that contrast. Holme is in conversation with generations of weavers. This piece speaks of home, comfort, care. You can see how they were constantly playing with patterns, colours, and designs, inspiring each other across time.