Quilt, Appliquéd and Stuffed Work

Date1862 (dated on reverse)

OriginAmerica, Ohio or Pennsylvania (possibly)

MediumCotton, plain weave, appliqued and quilted.

DimensionsOverall: 81 x 78 1/2in. (205.7 x 199.4cm)

Credit LineGift of Edwin and Barbara Braman

Object number1997.609.1

DescriptionThis is an almost square white cotton bed quilt appliqued with cottons in red, green and yellow and stuffed in a four-block format. The design consists of four large floral vases (positioned on the center field with two right side up and two upside down). Each vase has two handles and a large abstract group of tulips, leaves and red berries cascading over the sides of the vases. Two red and brown birds perch within each spray of flowers. All the berries are stuffed or padded. The border on all four sides consists of pots of flowers with floral and leaf elements growing horizontally from the pots. It is quilted in 9 running stitches per inch in triple parallel lines on the diagonal and appliqued with blind stitches. Chain stitches are used on some stems and birds legs. It is dated on reverse in outline stitch with the date "1862". It is bound in the same green cotton that was used in the vases and foliage and backed with white cotton.
Label TextThe unknown maker of this quilt used two techniques to construct it -- applique and stuffed work. An appliqued quilt consists of fabric carefully cut in various patterns and sewn onto a plain background. This particular quilt combines several different patterns; four identical large vases of tulips, berries, and birds form the central motifs with tiny vases of flowers, leaves and berries forming the borders. The patterns were appliqued in place using blind stitches. Some stems and the bird legs were created with chain stitches. All the berries were stuffed or padded. To create a stuffed area in a quilt, the threads on the backing of the quilt were separated and a stuffing or batting was pushed through the hole. Once the desired fullness was achieved, the threads were realigned. Quilted in running stiches in a simple diagonal pattern, the quilt is dated 1862 in outline stitches on the reverse. The red and green color scheme and the vase and tulip design are characteristic of Pennsylvania quilts and coverlets.
ProvenanceNo further provenance of the quilt is known.