CS Saddle blanket - Gettysburg provenance

[Mike Ventura]

I'm not an expert at weaves, etc., but I thought that the pattern was similar to a modern rag rug that I have.

[Ken Knopp]

Someone a whole lot smarter than I will have to comment about this type of weave pattern as being "period civilian correct" but I have no reason to doubt it. There is something similar at Memorial Hall in New Orleans which has been discussed on other threads with photographs posted and I think I remember something else like it (with provenance)... "somewhere". None of it was "military issue" but, if we could pin down this type of civilian weave, coloring etc. as period correct, and reproduce it (cheaply).....Hey! we might have a whole new saddle blanket "gig" here!!
Mrs Lawson? Anyone?

Ken R Knopp

[poilu1917]

That would be pretty sweet (reproing this saddle blanket). Though a finer weave, South Union Mills sells a repro KY Monk's belt coverlet of similar design.

[GreencoatCross]

Here's the same photo at the original resolution. Click on the thumbnail below, then on the pop-up photo and it should open to full size in a new tab on your browser.

Up close it doesn't look like part of a coverlet and it doesn't look like any carpet I've seen either, so maybe it was made specifically as a saddle blanket? Whatever it is the yarns look very densely woven.

Photo is courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

[rbruno]

Could this be a part of a sleeping blanket as well? Maybe. Either way, it is a cool piece.

[kaelin]

Hello,
I had one of our interpreters here at South Union Shaker Village, who has studied weaving. Here is his perspective, which I thought fit in nicely with this discussion.

This looks to be a "rep" weave. A weave that is intended for heavy use. The weave is heavy because of what it will be used for. If you look at the image, the warp is going left to right, right to left. The warp is top to bottom. This style of weaving would not have been a new style, but something common. The size could have varied, but again this type of weave was made for place mats, door mats, rugs, etc.

I then told him what it was actually used for, he said that would be a perfect example of using that weave.

For what it is worth...

[Mike Ventura]

Thank you, Brian for posting a larger image, and for letting me lift the one from your site (with credit, of course).

Looking at the larger image, I'm looking at the ends across the top, which appear to have been cut or sliced with a sharp object, scissors? A sharp knife? I am guessing that if this piece were used with these "raw" edges, that they would soon come unraveled in some way. This makes me think that perhaps the original was cut up in pieces for souvenirs among the person who captured the horse and his mess mates / friends? Just a thought...