Skip to main content

Link to Smithsonian homepage

Smithsonian Music

Main menu

  • Calendar
  • Listen
  • Learn
    • Ask Smithsonian
    • Collections Spotlights
    • Music Stories
  • Watch
  • Blog

1850 - 1875 Jane W. P. McHenry's "Tulip" Appliqued Quilt

Object Details

Description
An inked inscription on the lining of Jane’s quilt states, “Jennie C. McHenry from her Mother.” This quilt and several others were donated to the Collection by Miss G. Ruth McHenry, Jane’s granddaughter. It was given to her by her aunt, Kate (Catherine) Price McHenry. Catherine Price McHenry was the daughter of Jane Winter Price, who made this quilt.
Twelve 27-inch blocks were each appliquéd with a large red tulip with buds and dark green leaves and stems. Chains of dark green pointed ovals cover the joining seams of the blocks. The appliqué on this quilt is achieved using blind-stitching. The more often used whip-stitch was used only for the end of the stems and the joining of the buds to the stems. Floral motifs within circles are quilted in the corners of each block. The quilting design was marked in pencil and quilted 12 stitches per inch. The solid red, dark green, and white cottons chosen for this quilt provide a vivid rendition of the “Tulip” pattern.
Jane Winter Price, born in 1818 in Charles County, Md., was the daughter of Catherine Winter Dunnington II (1790 - 1863) and Richard Price (1771-1823). Catherine was married in 1813, and widowed in 1823. In 1838 she, along with her two living children, Jane and George Richard Price, left with others for Ala. On February 27, 1849, Jane married Josiah W. McHenry (b. 1815 in Maryland) in Shelby, Ala. In 1860 they lived in La Pile, Union County, Ark., with their four children, Catherine (b. 1850), Barnabas (b. 1852), George (b. 1854) and Jane C. (b. 1856) and Jane’s mother, Catherine, then aged 70. By 1870 they were living in Homer, La., where Jane died in January 1899. Jane C. was most likely the “Jennie” that is inked on the quilt.
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Museum of American History
maker
Price, Jane Winter
date made
1850-1875
Credit Line
Gift of Miss G. Ruth McHenry
Physical Description
thread, cotton (overall material)
fabric, cotton (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 120 in x 93 in; 304 cm x 235 cm
Object Name
quilt

Featured In

  • National Quilt Collection
  • National Quilt Collection:About
  • National Quilt Collection:Videos
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Link to Smithsonian homepage

  • About
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
Back to Top