Coverlet c. 1937

This coverlet was woven in the United States by Cornelius Christoffels. Though it is small, at approximately 28 by 36 centimeters, the original textile was much larger. What interests me most about this piece is the way the material, presumably cotton or linen, dictates the design. The grid structure of the weave creates an inherently geometric pattern. The blue and peach colors, combined with the texture of the cloth, produce a visual rhythm. Weaving, of course, has a rich history, deeply connected to the Industrial Revolution. The labor involved in producing textiles at scale had enormous social and political implications. But here, in this small coverlet, we see the persistence of an earlier, more intimate approach to the craft. Pieces like this remind us that even in an age of mass production, the personal touch and the inherent qualities of materials still hold significant cultural value.