Quilted Bed Cover c. 18th century

This Quilted Bed Cover, of unknown date and maker, employs cotton and mordant dye. Bed covers such as these played a role in colonial American society. The patterns, floral and geometric, are typical of Indian textiles traded during that time. The presence of this imported textile points to a complex history of trade and cultural exchange between India, Europe, and America. We can see how the image creates meaning through its visual codes: its colours, patterns, and the very material it’s made from. Textiles were highly valued commodities, and their presence in a home indicated the owner's social status and wealth. This reflects the social conditions that shaped artistic production, where access to materials and trade networks were determined by economic structures and the owner's social class. To fully understand the bed cover’s historical and cultural context, we can research trade routes, colonial economies, and textile production techniques. This would offer deeper insight into the intricate relationships between art, society, and institutions of trade and power.