Quilt, Pieced Show with Feather-Stitched Circles of Silk

Dateca. 1900

Attributed to Jane Ault

MediumSilks; silk embroidery threads

DimensionsOverall: 74 1/2 × 65 1/2in. (189.2 × 166.4cm)

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Jane Steel.

Object number2003.609.5

DescriptionThis is a rectangular show quilt consisting of 323 square blocks made of silk solids, plaids, woven designs, and velvet. The quilt is assembled in a series of 3 3/4-inch circles touching each other at the outer edges; each circle is composed of four pie shapes. Each circle is edged with multicolor feather stitches. Between the circles are curved diamonds composed of black, blue, or purple silks. The quilt is bound on all four sides with red satin ribbon, 2 5/8 inches wide, folded in half and machine stitched. The bottom right corner has a bow made of the satin ribbon. It is backed with rose-colored silk satin. It is not quilted.

Stitches: feather
Label TextConstructed of jewel-toned silk solids, plaids, textured weaves, and velvets, this small quilt or throw has the additional embellishment of feather stitches around all the edges. Quilt makers in the late nineteenth century often used silks edged with fancy stitches to create wildly asymmetrical pieced "crazy quilts." In this example, the design is more organized and symmetrical than that of crazy quilts. The last owner recalls that the quilt was given to her mother by her great-aunt, Jane Ault.
MarkingsNo marks, signatures, or inscriptions.
ProvenanceDonor writes, "The red quilt was given to my mother by Great-Aunt, Jane Ault. My mother's mother died giving birth, and Aunt Jane took care of her as a little girl. When I was born in 1918, mother named me after Aunt Jane. I do not know where Aunt Jane acquired the quilts." (Letter to Forrest Williamson, June 1, 2003.)