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2006.609.1,A, Quilt
Quilt, Appliquéd and Pieced Framed Center Medallion
2006.609.1,A, Quilt

Quilt, Appliquéd and Pieced Framed Center Medallion

Dateca. 1822
Maker Amelia Lauck (1760 - 1842)
OriginAmerica, Virginia, Frederick County, Winchester
MediumPlain and printed cottons. Backed with plain-woven cotton. Quilted with cotton (checked by microscope LRB 7/27/2007).
Dimensions88 1/2" x 87" (225 x 221 cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number2006.609.1,A
DescriptionThis is a symmetrical square framed center-medallion quilt made of white and printed cottons using applique and piecing with plain and stuffed quilting. The center square or medallion of the quilt is appliqued with four cut-out chintz palm trees with a pair of birds under each tree along the sides of the square, and rose trees in each corner. The central square of appliques is surrounded by borders forming squares within squares alternating "Delectable Mountain" bands with white quilting. Eight-pointed red and white pieced stars appear in the corners of one of the pieced borders. The outermost border is missing (part was made into pillow sham 2006.609.1,B.) The outer edge of the quilt, where the border was removed, was bound in a narrow one-fourth-inch binding that was machine stitched in place. The quilt backing consist of at least two pieces of cotton, one white cotton and one white and yellow cotton.
The intricate quilting pattern is quilted in 9-12 running stitches per inch. It consists of floral, vine, grape, and feather-designs that have been given added dimension with cotton stuffing. One-fourth-inch diagonal quilting lines create a puckered effect everywhere else on the quilt's surface.
The quilt is signed in backstitches in the center of one of the borders "A present by Amelia Lauck to her S. & D. Morg. & M. Lauck/ made in 62nd year."
Label TextAmelia Lauck’s quilt is exceptional because of its workmanship, beauty, and condition. The symmetrical design of the framed center-medallion consists of finely cutout printed cottons that have been appliquéd or stitched in place. The precise piecing of the red-printed cottons in sawtooth patterns form Delectable Mountains, a pattern often seen on quilts produced in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. At some time in the quilt’s history, the outer border was removed and presumably used in the creation of at least one pillow cover, which survives with the quilt.

The quilting pattern consists of floral, feathers, grapes, and vine designs that have been given added dimension with cotton stuffing. Smaller one-fourth inch diagonal quilting lines create a puckered effect everywhere else on the quilt’s surface.

The quilt was created as a wedding gift for Amelia’s eighth child, Morgan Adolphus Lauck (1796–1826), and his bride, Ann Maria Ott, who married on May 26, 1824. The quilt is marked in backstitches with the inscription “A present by Amelia Lauck to her S.[son] & D.[daughter] Morg. & M. Lauck / made in 62nd year.”

ProvenanceThe quilt descended through family until it was sold at Christie's, Sale #1617 on January 20, 2006.

History of quilt maker:
Made by Amelia Heiskell Lauck for her son and daughter-in-law, the quilt is inscribed in stitches, "A present by Amelia Lauck to her S. and D. Morg. & M. Lauck/ made in her 62nd year." Born in Winchester, Virginia in 1760, Amelia Heiskell Lauck lived her entire life there marrying Peter Lauck in 1779. Peter and Amelia had eleven children, six of whom survived into adulthood. This quilt was possibly made as a wedding gift for their son Morgan Adolphus Lauck who married Ann Maria Ott. The Lauck family is well documented in portraits and records. Portraits of various Lauck family members by Jacob Frymire and Charles Wilson Polk exist, one of which of Amelia by Frymire is in the MESDA collection. It is unusual to have this much information on a single quilt maker and her family.