Woven Coverlet 1937

This woven coverlet by Howard H. Sherman, date unknown, features a range of geometric and floral patterns in coral, white, navy, and purple. Imagine Sherman at work, teasing out these intricate designs, each stitch building into complex motifs of flowers and vines, maybe even working from home! I like the way the surface is broken up into a series of distinct blocks, each containing its own little world. There’s a kind of organized chaos to the composition, a playful tension between the regularity of the grid and the organic forms within. The colors, too, feel carefully considered. That coral against the navy creates a zingy contrast. The phrase ‘YEAR 1854’ stands out to me. Was this coverlet made to commemorate a specific year? Sherman’s design feels like a conversation with textile traditions, a continuation of patterns and techniques passed down through generations. There's a sense of both honoring the past and forging something new, which is what art is all about. It’s that constant exchange, the way we keep building on each other's ideas, that makes art so alive.