Quilt, Child's Appliqué Framed Center Medallion

Dateca. 1840

Maker Anna Catharine Hummel Markey Garnhart (1773-1860)

MediumPlain cotton, block and cylinder printed cottons, cotton batting, and cotton quilting stitches

DimensionsOH: 55 1/8" x OW: 41 1/4"

Credit LineGift of David and Linda Davidson

Object number2022.609.9

DescriptionThis is a small, rectangular child’s appliquéd quilt in a framed center medallion format that features reverse appliqué and cutout chintz floral basket, floral swags, and reverse appliqué leaves. The center unit is a single basket of flowers measuring 14 ¼” x 18 ½” with a red lattice appliqué base. It is surrounded by chintz appliqué lilac clusters and a ring of reverse appliqué leaves. The outer border is a ¾” sawtooth followed by a 3 ¼” blue dot print. The predominant colors are faded pale blue, cream, pink, red, and brown. It is quilted in running stitches 8 to 10 per inch in leaves, sunflowers, and chevrons around the central basket with a background fill of ½” crosshatch, zig zag, and parallel lines. The backing is brought to the front to form a 1/4 inch rolled edge finish.
Label TextThis small quilt was made for use on a crib or child's bed. Most of the floral sprays and leaf vine border are created in a reverse appliqué technique (sometimes called inlaid). Reverse appliqué is a rare and complicated process of cutting away and sewing down the ground cloth to reveal a pattern of design in the cloth beneath.

Catharine Garnhart of Frederick, Maryland, was the daughter of German immigrants. She created quilts in her later life for her eleven grandchildren. At least eight large quilts and three smaller crib-size quilts survive.
ProvenanceThis quilt was created by Anna Catharine Hummel Markey Garnhart for her granddaughter, either Rebecca Bentz Markey Winebrenner (1841-1904) or Susan Catharine Markey Rohrback (1843-1927), and was passed down through the Trail family. From Rebecca or Susan, the quilt went to Mrs. Grace Winebrenner Trail, and then to Mr. Florence Trail Davidson, and then to David Davidson, the donor.

History of Quilt Maker:
Anna Catharine Hummel Markey Garnhart (4/23/1773-1860) of Frederick, Maryland was the eldest child of German immigrants, John Hummel (d. 1781) and Christiana Catharine Grundler Hummel. Her father was a prosperous and respected farmer. Catharine married David John Markey (d. 1820), a wheelwright, in 1796, and they had three children: Frederick, David John Philip, and Christiana Catharine (called Ann Catharine) who died young. Widowed in 1820, Catharine married second Henry Garnhart (d. 1828), an older widower, who may have provided her the lifestyle that gave her the leisure time and money to create quilts for her grandchildren.