Images(6)

Quilt, Amish Pieced Irish Chain

Date1920-1935

Maker Lydia Fisher Petersheim (Mrs. Christian L.) ((1866-1954))

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Lancaster County, Leacock

MediumWool and cotton with cotton batting (fiber identification by microscope)

DimensionsOverall: 84 × 83 1/2in. (213.4 × 212.1cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase, Linda R. Baumgarten

Object number2022.609.4

DescriptionThis is a square quilt pieced in the “Triple Irish Chain” pattern in pink and blue with maroon field and border. It is quilted with 10-14 running stitches per inch through a very thin cotton batting to a backing of orange self-striped cotton sateen. A 1 ½-inch narrow border is applied around the outside edges. The 13 ½-inch wide outer maroon border is quilted with feather scrolls. The unpieced center field areas are quilted with feather circles and stars. The construction includes machine and hand stitching.
Label TextThis Amish quilt in a Triple Irish Chain pattern is a graphic example of the ingenuity of Lancaster County Amish quilters who adapted unconventional Amish patterns from earlier examples made by their non-Amish neighbors. Consistent with Amish quilting are the wools of solid colors finely quilted with black thread. The star within a feather wreath and the feather scrolls are traditional Amish quilting patterns. The use of corner blocks in the border is also commonly seen in Amish quilts.

Unlike many Amish quilts whose makers are anonymous, this quilt has a history of having been made by Lydia Fisher Petersheim for her granddaughter and namesake, Lydia F. Kauffman Stolzfus.

Art of the Quilter:
This quilt shows how Leacock, Pennsylvania, Amish quilters adopted unconventional patterns from their non-Amish neighbors. This pattern, called "Triple Irish Chain," today, is rarely seen in Amish quilts. However, the use of deeply saturated colors, large corner blocks, and feather patterned quilting on the boarders, is typical Amish work. Family history suggested that Lydia Fisher Petersheim made this quilt for her granddaughter and namesake Lydia F. Kauffman Stolzfus. They traveled together to a dry goods store in New Holland, Pennsylvania, where they selected fabrics for the quilt.
ProvenanceEx-collection: Dr. Patricia Herr
The quilt has a history of being made by Lydia Fisher (Mrs. Christian L.) Petersheim (1866-1954) for her namesake granddaughter Lydia F. Kauffman (Mrs. Jacob) Stolzfus (1914-2001).
The complete family line is as follows: Maker Lydia Fisher (Mrs. Christian L.) Petersheim (1866-1954; m. 1889); daughter Fannie F. Petersheim (Mrs. John) Kauffman (1892-1958); granddaughter and quilt receiver Lydia F. Kauffman (Mrs. Jacob M.) Stolzfus (1914-2001). The families lived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.