Lucy Williams Lathrop
Bed Rug

CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Bed Rug
Date1804
Made inLebanon, Connecticut, United States
MediumWool
Dimensions89 × 89 3/4 in. (226.1 × 228 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by the Theta Charity Antiques Show
Object numberB.2023.3
Non exposé

Explore Further

Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
Description

While the term “rug” today refers to a small floor covering, this usage developed only in the early 19th century. Previously, one of its meanings was a type of heavy coverlet. Most early bed rugs were one color made of heavy cloth and imported to the colonies. By contrast, the tradition of these bed rugs is one of needlework in the home, representing a commitment of time, materials, and skill, and often becoming treasured family heirlooms. Only about sixty surviving examples are known.


Most of the surviving bed rugs came from Connecticut, but they were made in other New England colonies and states. Many of the Connecticut examples originated in New London County, including this bed rug. Reaching across the southeastern corner of Connecticut, New London County enjoyed stability and prosperity from farming and maritime businesses, giving rise to households with the resources to create these spectacular bed coverings.


This bed rug, dated 1804 and with the initials L. L., is attributed to Lucy Williams Lathrop of Lebanon, Connecticut. Several related rugs are thought to have been made by other members of her family. Worked in shades of russet and olive, Lucy’s rug features a cut-pile face with a shaggy texture and a bold pattern centering a cluster of five flowers emerging from a stylized urn, all surrounded by a meandering vine that encircles a border of twelve similar flowers. Sixteen bed rugs are known with this design, which likely came from northwestern New London County. While the design sources for these bed rugs are unknown, they relate to images from widely circulated lace pattern books.


ProvenanceLucy Williams Lathrop (1759–1843), Lebanon, Connecticut; William Lathrop (1815–1877), Lebanon; Lucy Cornelia Lathrop (1851–1918); Lucy Lathrop Patterson (1900–1977); Casimir de Rham, Jr. (1924–2011), Cambridge, Massachusetts; [Nathan Liverant and Son Antiques, Colchester, Connecticut, 2005]; Susan and Frederick Copland, Avon, Connecticut; sold through [Nathan Liverant and Son Antiques, 2023]; purchased by MFAH, 2023.
Exhibition HistoryNew London County Quilts and Bed Covers, 1750–1825. The Florence Griswold Museum, February 12–May 1, 2022.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Recto: Date and artist initials are incorporated into the design with worked in yarn at center top edge: 1804 / L L
Verso: [none]
Recto: Artist initials are incorporated into the design with worked in yarn at center top edge: L L
[none]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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Bed Rug
Jerusha Foote Johnson
1782
Wool
B.2023.4
scan from file photograph
c. 1740
Cotton twill, wool
B.56.183.2
scan from file photograph
c. 1740
Cotton twill and wool
B.56.183.1.A-.C
scan from file photograph
c. 1740
Cotton twill, wool
B.56.183.3
scan from file photograph
c. 1740
Cotton twill, wool
B.56.183.4
Counterpane
18th century
Wool embroidered with crewel wool
B.63.73
Coverlet
early 19th century
Wool, wool thread, possibly linen and cotton
B.79.12
Framed Panel from Bed Hangings
Daniel Marot
c. 1690
Linen and wool
73.29
Framed Panel from Bed Hanging
Daniel Marot
c. 1690
Linen and wool
73.30
Crewelwork Curtain
18th century
Cotton and wool
B.56.51.4