Tablecover 1817 - 1820

This woven tablecover of undyed linen was made by Jane Simonton Chapman, born in 1794. Without a specific date we can only contextualize this piece by knowing that Chapman lived through a period of immense transformation in American industry and gender roles. The labor of women was central to the production of textiles in the home. Weaving, often relegated to the domestic sphere, was simultaneously a creative outlet and an economic necessity. Tablecovers such as this one were physical manifestations of a woman's skill and industry, displayed in the home as a symbol of domestic virtue. Despite its utilitarian purpose, the geometric patterns woven into the fabric reveal a sense of artistry and personal expression. The creation of such textiles provided women an opportunity to contribute to the household economy, while also asserting their identities through craft. This piece allows us to consider the complex interplay between labor, gender, and creativity in the context of 19th-century America.