Quilt, Pieced Pinwheels

Date1860-1880

Artist/Maker Sarah F. Lewis

MediumPrinted and plain cottons

Dimensions87 1/4" h x 77" w

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

Object number1974.609.23

DescriptionThis is a rectangular pieced quilt of red, blue-green, and white-ground small-scale printed cottons forming a design of pinwheels set within diamonds. The pinwheels alternate with plain diamonds. The quilt is quilted in diamonds and parallel lines in seven running stitches per inch. It is backed in plain white cotton and bound with blue printed cotton.
Label TextThis lively pieced design features red and white pinwheels set on point. The quilt seems to vibrate with movement created by varying the orientation of the blocks, giving the visual impression of pinwheels spinning. On the white cotton lining, the quilt maker signed her name in ink. Although slightly faded, the signature appears to be "Sarah F. Lewis [?]18." The number 18 may refer to her age.
ProvenanceBequest of Grace W. Westerfield; no known provenance prior to Westerfield ownership is known.
Sarah F. Lewis has not been identified.