Cotton bedspread. White on white quilting, square with fringed edging on three sides. Motifs of sunflowers, strawberries and grape vines. Continuous serpentine foliate vine around border. Signed in ink at bottom left corner: 'Mary E Lane; signed in cross-stitch, HRL at top right corner with additional note in ink: "for MS Kennedy 1899."
Mary E. Lane No 2 written in ink in bottom left corner. HRL cross-stitched with "for MS Kennedy 1899'" written in ink at top right corner.
Length (cm)
254
Length (ft)
8.3333333333
Length (in)
100
Width (in)
100
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-11-09
Condition Notes
Some staining.
Object ID
W.1992.015.001
Notes
Since the quilting on this bedspread is too sophisticated for a young girl, it is probable that Jane Buchanan Lane, Mary and Harriet's mother, was the person who made the bedspread. The signatures in ink and cross stitch inform us that sisters, Mary E. and Harriet R. Lane owned the coverlet at different times in their lives. In or before 1899, Harriet added the message that the textile was to be next owned by her maternal cousin, May Selden Kennedy.
Jacquard woven blanket formed by two layers of intersecting dyed and undyed fabric. It was manufactured, not hand woven, due to the size of the loom required and complexity of punching the cards to form the pattern. Blue base with undyed wool forming a floral design.with starburst and diamond alternating patterns in between. Green fabric tape found on edges. Design is reversed in color on opposite side. Center design is cluster of four rose plants. Border is a foliate vine with blossoms.
Supposedly owned by Harriet Lane when she attended Georgetown Visitation Convent. Unknown how it came to be in donor's possession. Donor's son and daughter-in-law posited that perhaps Charlotte A. Bauer (donor) received it from Mrs. Cynthia Westover Alden, who was a cousin by marriage to John Alden. Mrs. Cynthia W. Alden had many connections in the 1880s and may have received the blanket from Harriet Lane Johnston.
Matching pair of machine-stitched monogrammed white linen pillow cases. Rectangular, with 4-inch flap in back (sewn down on sides). 7 buttonholes with matching fabric-covered 2-hole buttons. Band of eyelet folded in half and sewn onto both sides. White monogram is 2 inches high; located center front, 4 inches from the bottom fold.
Provenance
Belonged to Henry Elliott Johnston and Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor, Jr.).
Pair of linen pillow shams. Rectangular cloth with scalloped edges. Double border in white thread with peony-like flowers and grape vines. Solid band between two rows. Inside row has more elaborate flowers and wheat stalks. 'HLJ' embroidered in interlock
Linen bedsheet. Plain ivory color. Two 95 inch pieces seamed along selvedges at mid-width, hemmed .5'. 'Wheatland 2_14_'69' written in faded black ink to right of seam, at top.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
White linen top sheet. 'HLJ' embroidered in interlocking script letters in white thread at center top, 7 inches from edge. Hand-sewn hems: top is 3.5 inches; bottom is 1 inch. "E.R. Taylor" in sewn-on tag. "ERT-C" stamped on same lower inside hem at corner.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
White linen sheet- coarser than others. Hand-hemmed. 2-inch hem at top and at 1/2-inch at bottom. "HL Johnston 12-'72' " handwritten in black ink on top lupper right corner .
"ERT-C" stamped on bottom hem.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
White linen sheet. No specific head or foot to this sheet. Both crosswise end have 1/4-inch hand-stitched rolled hems. "ERT-C" stamped twice on one hemmed edge and once on opposite hemmed edge.
Provenance
Belonged to Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
One of six white, linen sheets. Hemmed at top 2.25' and at bottom, .75'. Monogram embroidered in white thread 5 inches from center top edge. 2 stamps "ERT-C" on lower hem.
Provenance
Belonged to Henry Elliott Johnston and Harriet Lane Johnston, passed to May Kennedy (Harriet's cousin), passed to Julia Kennedy (Taylor) (sister), passed to Taylor daughters, passed to donor (Edmund R. Taylor III).
