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Pieced Pillow Cover

Pieced Pillow Cover

Dateafter 1840
Maker Amelia Lauck (1760 - 1842)
OriginAmerica, Virginia, Frederick County, Winchester
MediumPlain and printed cottons. Backed with plain-woven cotton. Quilted with cotton (checked by microscope LRB 7/27/2007).
DimensionsOW: 26 1/4" x OH: 16 5/8" (67 x 41 cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number2006.609.1,B
DescriptionThis is a rectangular pillow cover created from (presumably) part of the outer border of quilt, 2006.609.1. It is constructed of four rectangular pieced blocks with a plain cotton backing brought to the front and machine stitched in place to form a 1/3/4" border on the sides and a 1 3/8" border at top and bottom. The corners of the border are mitered with a whip stitch. The rectangular blocks measure approximately 11 1/2" wide by 7" high and consist of 4 triangles of pieced red and pink striped cotton with small yellow flowers in a sawtooth pattern, a triangle of white cotton stuffed work, and a diamond of white cotton stuffed work. The patterns of the stuffed work are grapes, leafs, and floral sprigs. The sawtooth pattern is known as Delectable Mountains.The intricate quilting patterns iare quilted in 9-12 running stitches per inch. A machine stitched row of stitches is down the center of the cover. There is no opening for a pillow.
Label TextAmelia Lauck’s quilt is exceptional because of its workmanship, beauty, and condition. The symmetrical design of the framed center-medallion consists of finely cutout printed cottons that have been appliquéd or stitched in place. The precise piecing of the red-printed cottons in sawtooth patterns form Delectable Mountains, a pattern often seen on quilts produced in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. At some time in the quilt’s history, the outer border was removed and presumably used in the creation of at least one pillow cover, which survives with the quilt.

The quilting pattern consists of floral, feathers, grapes, and vine designs that have been given added dimension with cotton stuffing. Smaller one-fourth inch diagonal quilting lines create a puckered effect everywhere else on the quilt’s surface.
InscribedNo marks or inscriptions.
ProvenanceThe quilt and pillow cover descended through family until it was sold at Christie's, Sale #1617 on January 20, 2006.

History of quilt maker:
Made by Amelia Heiskell Lauck for her son and daughter-in-law, the quilt is inscribed in stitches, "A present by Amelia Lauck to her S. and D. Morg. & M. Lauck/ made in her 62nd year." Born in Winchester, Virginia in 1760, Amelia Heiskell Lauck lived her entire life there marrying Peter Lauck in 1779. Peter and Amelia had eleven children, six of whom survived into adulthood. This quilt was possibly made as a wedding gift for their son Morgan Adolphus Lauck who married Ann Maria Ott. The Lauck family is well documented in portraits and records. Portraits of various Lauck family members by Jacob Frymire and Charles Wilson Polk exist, one of which of Amelia by Frymire is in the MESDA collection. It is unusual to have this much information on a single quilt maker and her family.