Quilt, Pieced String or Strip

Date1950-1965

Maker Susana Allen Hunter (1912 - 2005)

OriginAmerica, Alabama, Dallas County or Wilcox County

MediumCotton, wool, synthetics

DimensionsOverall: 81" × 67 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2013.609.1

DescriptionRectangular quilt pieced from cottons, woolens, and synthetic textiles in uneven blocks stitched together into five strips. Multicolored pieces are dominated by browns and beige, with some pieces of bright red, yellow, purple, and blue. Printed patterns include a heraldic design and folk dancers. Quilted with 2 to 3 running stitches per inch through heavy cotton batting. Backed with feed sacks.
Label TextPieced Strip Quilt
Susana Allen Hunter (1912–2005)
Wilcox County or Dallas County, Alabama, 1950–1970
Cotton, wool, synthetics fabrics
2–3 running stitches per inch
80 1/4 x 67 1/2 in. (204 x 171 cm)
Museum Purchase, 2013.609.1
Various sizes and shapes of textiles are pieced together into five long strips that are stitched together to form the final geometric design. Despite the apparent lack of planning, the colors are arranged to create subtle balance within an otherwise asymmetrical arrangement. The long quilting stitches are worked through thick cotton batting to a backing of coarse white cotton feed sacks. Although one of the feed sacks has been slit lengthwise to fit the space needed for the backing, the head of a mule can be matched to an intact hundred-pound feed sack used as the backing of another quilt made by Mrs. Hunter.

ProvenancePurchased from the quiltmaker's grandson and his wife, 2013.