Add a charming touch to your home decor with this beautiful 8.5” square homemade pillow made from an antique coverlet signed by Benjamin Hausman for William Lerch in 1843. The fabric features a multi-color design of red green and yellow woven textile material from the original antique coverlet. The reverse side is a soft green plaid. It’s noted that it is unusual for a coverlet to be woven for a man.

The weaver, Benjamin Hausman’s work appears in prestigious institutions including the Smithsonian. Below is some history:

Benjamin Hausman, born March 2, 1799, of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Several members of the Hausman family were coverlet weavers in Pennsylvania in the 19th century. Benjamin worked in Allentown, Lehigh County, from 1836 to 1845, and in York, York County, from 1847 to 1848. He is listed as a coverlet weaver in the 1850 census of York, York County, Pennsylvania. He moved to Philadelphia in 1852 and in the 1862 Philadelphia Septennial Census he is listed as a weaver. He and his wife Sarah lived with their daughter and son-in-law in Philadelphia. He died c. 1869.

Source: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1270589

Condition:

There are some light stains on the signed panel but overall this is in good condition. Some yellow stitching is missing. I did not clean the pillow and will leave that to the new owners discretion.

Please view all photos as they best represent condition and details.