Images(4)

Quilt, Amish Pieced Log Cabin

Date1890-1910

Maker Unidentified

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Lancaster County

MediumCotton, wool, and cotton/wool (fiber identification by microscope)

DimensionsOverall: 85 1/2 × 85in. (217.2 × 215.9cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2022.609.5

DescriptionThis is a square quilt with rounded corners pieced in the “Log Cabin” technique in shades of solid green, blue, brown, and orange, with the colors arranged to form concentric diamonds in the so-called “Barn Raising” pattern. A wide (10 ½”) border of solid orange is quilted through very thin batting in brown running stitches, 9-10 stitches per inch, in a scrolling feather pattern. A narrow half-inch binding of blue is machine-stitched to the edges. The quilt backing is a textured two-tone brown crepe (?) textile. The Log Cabin areas are constructed using a variety of primarily solid-color fabrics, including plain weave, twill, ribbed, corded, fancy float weaves, and one piece of printed light-ground textile. The construction includes hand and machine stitching.
Label TextThis Amish quilt is an unusual display of individuality rarely found in Amish quilt making. The log cabin pattern is seldom found in Amish bed quilts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, although it was a popular choice for other American quiltmakers. The inclusion of two logs of printed fabric is also atypical, as is the rounded corners of the quilts. Unlike many Amish quilts whose makers are anonymous, this quilt has a history of having been made for Mrs. John Lapp by her mother. The wide border surrounding the logs is quilted in a typical Amish feather pattern.

ProvenanceEx-collection: Dr. Patricia Herr

The quilt has a history of being made for Mrs. John Lapp by her mother. It was first purchased from the granddaughter, Mrs. Ben "Stolzfuz (spelling per card that accompanied quilt) of the New Holland, Pennsylvania area. The Herrs purchased it from David Riehl of Narvon, Pennsylvania.

The best match to "Mrs. Ben Stolzfuz" of the New Holland area is the wife of Ben O. Stoltzfus (1928-2014), who farmed in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, nine miles from New Holland and later moved to East Earl, three miles from New Holland. Mrs. Ben Stoltzfus was born Miriam Rebecca Stoltzfus (1927-2016). (Note that Miriam's maiden name was Stoltzfus and she also married a man named Stoltzfus.) Miriam was born in Morgantown, Berks County, and joined in farming with her husband near Honey Brook. The couple moved from the farm when her husband began to operate a warehouse of chemicals and fertilizer in Honey Brook. They subsequently moved to East Earl, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and had a winter home in Florida. They were members of the Mennonite Church. Miriam died in Lancaster County.

Mrs. Ben O. (Miriam) Stoltzfus’s line of descent was as follows: Parents Elizabeth Petersheim (1898-1979) and John S. Stoltzfus (1898-1968), Amish from Morgantown, Berks County, Pennsylvania; grandparents Lydia L. Lapp (1864-1924) and Samuel L. Petersheim (1861-1926); great-grandparents Elizabeth Lantz (1841-1919) and Isaac Lapp (1840-1911). Neither grandparents nor great-grandparents was named "John Lapp," though Miriam's great-uncle (her great-grandfather's brother) was John B. Lapp (1849-1926), and John B.'s son was also named "John Lapp" (1875-1958).

If Miriam Stoltzfus is, indeed, the last family owner of the quilt, the family genealogy may have gotten mixed up between great-grandfather Isaac Lapp and great-uncle John Lapp.