Printed Patchwork and Pieced Flying Geese Pillow Cover
Dateca. 1840
MediumPlain and printed cotton
DimensionsOH: 20 1/4 in. x OW: 29 1/4 in.
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number2018.609.3
DescriptionThis is a rectangular pillow cover consisting of three panels of printed patchwork cotton and two panels of pieced patchwork in the Flying Geese pattern. The cover is backed in plain cream-color cotton. The opening at one end is finished in a hand-stitched 1/8" hem. Both of the printed cottons used are made up of brown, tan, blue, and cream.Label TextPieced triangles lined up in perfectly straight rows recall the appearance of geese in flight in this pillow cover. The triangles, the shapes that resemble birds in flight and therefore give "flying geese" quilts their name, are patchworked in this object. The stripes in the pillow cover, which also look like they have been patchworked, are actually made up of a single fabric which was made to resemble patchwork. Faux patchwork fabrics of this sort demonstrate how popular patchwork quilt making was in the mid-nineteenth century.
InscribedNone
MarkingsNone
ProvenanceEx. Collection: Pat Nickols; no further provenance is known.
ca. 1880
1842-1860
ca. 1840
1850-1860
1840-1860 (quilt)
1840-1860
1850-1870, backed with ca. 1790 Copperplate
