Quilt, Whole Cloth, block printed

Dateca. 1780

MediumCotton (by microscope)

DimensionsL: 82" (208.3 cm); W: 57 1/2" (146.1 cm)
Pattern repeat about 12 1/2" (31.75 cm)
Textile selvage width approximately 32 3/4" (83.2 cm)

Credit LineAnonymous gift

Object number1971-1493

DescriptionFragment of a wholecloth quilt faced with block-printed cotton twill in several large pieces and numerous small scraps. The floral design consists of undulating vines bearing red and blue flowers and fruits with leaves having an interior pattern of dots ("pictoage") and small flowers. Colors consist of dark brown outlines, 2 shades of red (madder), and brushed on ("pencilled") indigo blue. Quilted at 7 to 8 cotton running stitches per inch in interlocking circles through very thin cotton batting and natural color plain-woven cotton backing. The quilt has three raw cut edges and one hemmed edge.
Note: Block marks are visible and there is a small red cross of supplementary warp and weft that may have been a measurement or registration mark.Label TextThis quilt fragment attests to the value placed on printed cottons. Numerous scraps and panels were carefully stitched together in order to reuse the colorful floral cotton material as a quilt. Today it serves to document the historical printed design.ProvenanceEx coll: Tomlinson.