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1790 - 1800 Pieced Quilt

Object Details

Description
This late 18th-century medallion style quilt has many examples of block-printed and plate-printed fabrics. The focal center of the quilt, a 12-inch block constructed of four triangles, is surrounded by four pieced borders made of 3-inch and 6-inch triangles. The fabrics in each row are arranged in a mirror image from the ends of the row to the center creating a kaleidoscope effect. The red, copperplate print used in the pieced section of the quilt is the fabric: “Apotheosis of Franklin and Washington” printed in England about 1785. The border fabric is cotton, plate-printed in red, and is similar to English plate prints of 1770-1795. It is quilted 6 stitches per inch in a diagonal grid pattern on the outer border with linear quilting accentuating the pieced triangles of the center.
The many fabrics of this well planned quilt make it a valuable part of the Collection.
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Museum of American History
maker
unknown
date made
1790-1800
Physical Description
fabric, cotton, linen/cotton (overall material)
thread, cotton, linen (overall material)
filling, wool (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 99 in x 93 in; 251 cm x 236 cm
Object Name
quilt

Featured In

  • National Quilt Collection
  • National Quilt Collection:About
  • National Quilt Collection:Videos
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