Images(4)

Quilt, Pieced

Date1750-1780 textiles; 1800-1830 quilt

MakerMember of the Davison Family

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania

MediumLinen, cotton

Dimensions83 1/2 x 83 1/4"

Credit LineGift of Sandra F. Fisher

Object number2005-329

DescriptionSquare quilt pieced from four-inch and eight-inch squares of indigo and white floral resist prints, alternating with white rectangles of white cotton. Two sides of quilt have six to seven-inch borders of printed linen. The two ends have narrow printed bindings in scallop and cross-hatch pattern. Quilted with cotton in running stitch forming half-inch to five eighth-inch diamonds. White cotton backing brought to front to form 3/8" binding. Stitches to inch: 8
Label TextResist Block Quilt; made by a member of the Davison Family; resist-printed linen and block-printed cotton; Franklin County, Pennsylvania; textiles 1750-1780, quilted 1800-1830; 83 ½" X 83 ¼"; 2005-329, gift of Sandra F. Fisher. This charming quilt is a good example of how frugal early Americans recycled old materials. The indigo printed linen floral pattern and striped cotton border were imported to America and originally used as fashionable bed curtains. After the curtains had faded or gone out of fashion, a family member alternated large and small square scraps with rectangles of white cotton to make a simple block pieced quilt.