Sunday, March 03, 2024

Antique Wandering Vine Coverlet in Red and Cream


Antique Wandering Vine Coverlet

I saw this lovely coverlet for sale on ebay last fall.  Its a Wandering Vine pattern, also known as Snail Trail or Cat's Paw, among many other names.  This was a very popular pattern for home weavers because it was so much fun to see the pattern emerge.  

Two summers (more than a year) ago, it seemed like there were a lot of these on the market.  There were so many of them at the time, I wanted to avoid them ...  but now that I'm thinking about making one myself, they look a lot more interesting ... and barely any on the market for sale now.

Gay McGeary did a nice overview of this "Cat Track and Dog Paw" pattern in the following presentation at the Coverlet College in 2015.  I wish I could have heard her speak, as the notes only say so much ...   There are 2 antique coverlets featured in the presentation -- both of them very similar to this one.

Here are some of the other names this patterns goes by:

  • Cat Track & Snail Trail
  • Cats Paw Blooming Vine Old Girl
  • Dog Tracks Flowering Vine Old Roads
  • Rattlesnakes Running Vine Snowballs
  • Rattlesnakes Skin Trailing Vine Soldier Return
  • Rattlesnakes Trail Winding Vine Winding Roadhttp://www.amazon.com/
  • Snakes Skin Vine Around the
  • Stump
  • Snakes Trail Ocean Wave

Names per Lou Tate in her book Kentucky Coverlets

There are 2 ways to make these "woven as drawn in" and "rose fashion."  I'm still not quite sure what that means yet, or how they differ, but I think it has to do with the treadling.  That is something I will have to figure out as I develop the planning documents for making one of my own ...

Yup-- This will be the next coverlet, now that the Mountain Cucumber Coverlet is finished.  ;-)

 

   

Detail of border

Here are the images from the eBay listing (for the record)
















Antique Woven Wool Overshot Coverlet 1800s Center Seam Rust Red Cream Snowflake

Sold by Your Attic Treasures 

$195.00

Item specifics

Condition:  Pre-owned
Seller Notes:
“Good condition with one small 1" section has opened up on the center seam, there is one small hole ...
Number of Items in Set: 1
Pattern: Woven, Geometric, Snowflakes
Shape: Rectangular
Size: Full, Double
Color: Rust red, Antique White, Ivory, Cream
Material: Cotton, Linen, Wool
Set Includes: Coverlet
Item Length: 88 in
Brand: Unbranded
Type: Coverlet
Department: Adults
Original/Licensed Reproduction: Original
Style: Antique
Theme: Christmas, Primitives, Snow, Snowballs, Snowflakes
Features: Reversible, Center Seam, Hand Woven, Fringed edges
Time Period Manufactured: 1800-1849
Production Technique: Woven
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Item Width: 69 in
Handmade: Yes

Item Description from the Seller

This fabulous coverlet is reversible, has 3 fringed sides, and has a center seam.

Good condition with one small 1" section has opened up on the center seam, there is one small hole (see the last photo), some stains, and some frayed/broken fringes around the edges. We may have overlooked some possible small holes/breaks, but overall it is in pretty good shape.
About 69 inches x 88 inches.

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