Images(3)

Quilt, Appliquéd by Miriam Lippincott

Date1845

Maker Miriam Lippincott

OriginAmerica, New Jersey, Burlington County, Mansfield

MediumPlain and printed cottons

DimensionsOverall: 102 1/2 × 110 1/2in. (260.4 × 280.7cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2020.609.2

DescriptionThis is a large almost square red and green appliquéd quilt consisting of 81 blocks of a pattern known as "Peony." Each red and green "peony" is made up of six pieced diamonds, two pieced triangles, and a stem. The blocks measure approximately 8 1/4" x 8 3/8" and are divided by printed green sashing measuring approximately 1 5/8" wide. A border measuring 8 3/4" wide has a printed red undulating ribbon/vine with two different printed green leaves. There are 7 different printed green cottons and 14 different printed red cottons in the quilt. The bottom right block is signed "Miriam Lippincott/ 184[5]/ Mansfield/ NJ." The quilt backing consists of 3 1/3 panels of plain natural white cotton, which has been brought to the front and covered with a printed green and yellow fabric to form an edge. The edging measures 1 3/4" wide at top and 3/8" wide at sides and bottom. The quilt is quilted in an outline pattern in 7 quilting stitches per inch.
Label TextAlbum quilts made up of individual appliquéd blocks in a red and green color scheme were especially popular in the mid-nineteenth century. Eight-one blocks in this quilt contain a geometric pieced flower known as the "Peony" pattern. One quilt block is signed "Miriam Lippincott/ 184[5]/ Mansfield/ NJ." Mariam was born April 2, 1830, into the Quaker family of Lydia Matlack and Isaac Lippincott. She married Henry Warrington Roberts, a farmer, and lived her entire life in Burlington County, New Jersey.
ProvenanceThe quilt was purchased in New Jersey by the previous owner. No previous provenance is known.

History of Quilt Maker:
Miriam Lippincott was born on April 2, 1830, into the Quaker family of Lydia Matlack (1797) and Isaac Lippincott (1793-1876). She married Henry Warrington Roberts, a farmer, on March 2, 1860. Together they had four children: Allen H., Isaac L., Nathan H., and Sarah L. Miriam died in April of 1921.