Gewebter Bettdeckenbezug
c. 1936
This intricate blue-and-white pattern is a meticulous realistic study of a historic American coverlet, created by Elizabeth Valentine around 1936 for the Index of American Design project. She was documenting a bedspread originally woven by Noah P. Tilson in 1831, which features majestic eagles and classical columns framing a bold slogan: 'Agriculture [and] Manufactures are the Foundation of our Independence.' It’s a fascinating look at how early Americans wove their political values right into their bedding, preserved here by a Depression-era artist.