H. & A.. Seifert; Figured and Fancy coverlet; Beiderwand; 1847; Pennsylvania

This cotton and wool Figured and Fancy coverlet features red, blue and olive green horizontal color-banding. The centerfield is composed of five different floral and geometric design motifs each within nine and a quarter inch diamond figures. The border pattern found on all four sides the coverlet is composed of houses, fences trees, grapevine, dogs, cats, chickens, and birds. The four corners list the manufacturer’s name, place, and date, indicating that the coverlet was made by H. & A. Seifert in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania in 1847. The coverlet was woven for Daniel Baker (1821-1905) of Church Town, PA. "This is the property of Daniel Baker.” is woven in a narrow band across the lower border of the coverlet. Extensions of warp ends and weft picks form a fringe along three sides.

H. & A. Seifert, the manufacturer of this coverlet, was a partnership between brothers, Andrew (1820-1900) and Henry Seifert (1823-1905). More research is needed into whether this partnership was simply between two artisan hand-weavers or if the brothers were investing their capital into the establishment of a factory. The brothers were born in York City, York County, Pennsylvania. They established their business in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The partnership was extant at least between the years 1843-1851, as there are extant signed and dated coverlets that fall within that range. There was a third brother, Emanuel (b. 1830) who was recorded at living with Andrew in the 1850 Federal Census. It is quite likely that as the youngest brother, his older brothers trained him as a coverlet weaver, and he was likely working in the manufactory where this coverlet was made. H. & A. Seifert was dissolved in 1851, and Seifert and Co. established. It is almost certain that Emanuel joined into the partnership with his older brothers. The Seifert coverlets and the evolving business relationships these brothers engaged in tell and show how rural American craftspeople related to technological advancement and new business models.

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