Images(3)

Quilt Top, Mosaic with Paper Templates

Dateca. 1863

Maker Louis Phillippi (1849 - 1931)

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

MediumSilk, paper templates, silk stitching thread

DimensionsOH: 92" x OW: 87"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2004.609.2

DescriptionThis is a rectangular mosaic quilt top, pieced of multicolor and black silk hexagons, originally folded over paper templates (with only a few papers remaining inside). The silks consist of checks, plaids, stripes, and Jacquard florals and figures. Each hexagon measures about 1 1/8 to 1 1/4" across. The overall design consists of 6-petal abstract flowers formed from 7 hexagons, each on a ground of black hexagons. The solid border of maroon silk consists of tone-on-tone fancy-weave diamonds. The piecing thread is silk. No batting or backing.
Markings"[?] Phillippi" stamped in ink on one piece. Paper label reads: "Silk Quilt top cut and pieced by Louis Phillippi and four sisters in Philadelphia in 1863. This was the cause of his running away from home and joining the Union army at the age of 14."
ProvenanceTyped paper label loosely stitched to quilt reads, "Silk Quilt top cut and pieced by Louis Phillippi and four sisters in Philadelphia in 1863. This was the cause of his running away from home and joining the Union army at the age of 14." One of the hexagon pieces has an ink stamp with "[ ] Phillippi" in a banner and paired hearts above. According to genealogy sent by family, Louis Phillippi was born June 3, 1849 and died April 21, 1931 in Crystal City, Missouri. He married Amelia Lyon on April 27, 1881 in Sedalia, Missouri. Louis's parents were Henry Phillippie [sic.] and Elizabeth Clampit of Philadelphia. Their children were Louis (b. 1849), Katheran (Kate) (b. ca. 1844/1845), Anna (b. ca. 1847), Florence (b. 1851), and Henretta (birth date unknown). Information from Ancestry.com shows that Louis appeared in the Joachim, Jefferson, Missouri census for 1880 as a single white bookkeeper, born in Pennsylvania.