Bidspirit auction | RARE MICHIGAN COVERLET

RARE MICHIGAN COVERLET - Michigan, 1860. A coverlet in red, light blue, and dark blue with floral and foliate motifs, swag and distelfink side borders, a flower and tulip garland foot border, with corner block signed and dated ”WOVE BY W. WOLF PITTSFORD HILLSDALE COUNTY MICH 1860” and the name ”DARCUS JW MOSS”. Provenance: The Virginia Gunn Collection, Wooster, Ohio. ?W. Wolf? is William Wolf (1819-1905), born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He married Rachel Rachel Boyer (1827-188) in Knox County, Ohio in 1846. The couple soon moved to Richland County where, in the 1850 census, William is listed as a ?coverlet weaver.? The couple?s third child is listed in the census has having been born in Michigan, and in the 1860 census, the family is living in Pittsford, Hillsdale County. In that census, the two following, William is listed as a farmer, but clearly continued his coverlet weaving, though likely doing so in smaller quantities given the rarity of surviving examples. Two of William?s brothers, Adam and Henry, were also coverlet weavers in Richland County, Ohio, though after the extended family moved to Michigan, the brothers seemed to have left the weaving trade, leaving only William still weaving coverlets. In May 2025, Meander Auctions sold a coverlet woven by Wolf for Darcas T. Moss [Dorcas]. It is likely that these coverlets were commissioned at the same time, as they are both dated 1860. Affordable, in-house shipping is available for this lot. Please contact us for a quote. Condition: Some minor losses and stains.