Appliquéd Quilt Square

Dateca. 1855

MediumPlain and printed cottons

Dimensions17 1/2" X 19" (44.4 x 48.2 cm)

Credit LineBequest of Mrs. Jason R. (Grace H.) Westerfield

Object number1974.609.9

DescriptionThis is a quilt block consisting of an appliquéd pattern of red cotton in a princess feather or laurel wreath around a pattern of four oak-shaped leaves on a white cotton ground. The edges of the cutout fabric have been turned under and stitched in place.
Label TextAppliqué involved sewing cut shapes down onto a larger ground fabric. Usually, the cut edges of the appliqués were turned under before stitching. Less often, buttonhole stitches were worked around the raw edges. This appliquéd quilt block, which was probably intended for use in an album quilt, features a wreath of princess feathers with a center motif of four oak leaves.
ProvenanceOther than donor, no futher provenance is known.
Maker is unidentified.