Images(4)

Quilt, Patchwork by Unknown Maker

Dateca. 1800; quilted 1825-1850

Maker Unidentified

OriginAmerica, New England (possibly)

MediumSilk, silk-worsted, and cotton-linen with worsted backing, wool batting, linen piecing stitches, and cotton quilting stitches (fiber identification by microscope)

DimensionsOW: 98" x OH: 104"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase and Partial Gift from Deborah E. Kraak and David W. Rickman in honor of Linda Baumgarten

Object number2019.609.9

DescriptionThis is a rectangular quilt pieced of multicolor silk, cotton-linen, and silk-worsted textiles in a variety of weaves, including ribbing, plain-weave, brocading, twill, damask, and satin, with the silks predominating. The piecing consists of 216 units or blocks, each formed from a diagonally quartered square (four triangles within a square), sometimes referred to as "Hourglass" or "Yankee Puzzle." Many of the triangles are themselves pieced from smaller scraps. The quilt is centered with a larger square appliqued block having a pink heart in each corner, four flying birds, and a tulip-like flower with straight stem. There is a wide T-shaped inner border of yellow ribbed silk-and-worsted and an outer border of dark green plain-woven glazed worsted textile. Both yellow and green borders are pieced up from smaller pieces. The quilting is worked through very thin wool batting using 6 to 7 running stitches per inch in repeated chevrons spaced from 3/4" to 1 1/4" apart. The quilting threads are dark blue-green predominantly cotton thread (with some stray wool and bast fibers). The quilt's outer edges are turned in and stitched with running stitches. The backing consists of four panels of green plain-woven glazed worsted stitched with natural-color bast fiber threads.
Label TextThe central design of this rare quilt consists of 216 small squares, each made up of four equal 90-degree triangles. So frugal was the quiltmaker that some of the triangles are themselves pieced up to salvage every bit of the fine silk and cotton-linen materials that date from the 1760s to about 1800. Most of the textiles came from expensive clothing such as ladies' gowns and men's dress suits, suggesting the existence of a well-used scrap bag.
ProvenancePurchased by Deborah Kraak from the Skinner sale 1525-1526, AMERICANA AND THE ESTATE OF CHARLES C. STOCKMAN, II, August 20-21, 1993, lot. 425.