Quilts and Coverlets

Spanning four centuries, a particular strength of the textile collection lies in quilts that women and some men constructed and decorated by piecing small bits of cloth together into geometric patterns or appliquéing cutout shapes onto a ground fabric. The hand stitches that held the finished quilt top to the warm inner batting and plainer backing fabrics added additional texture and subtle pattern. Today, many quilts that once warmed beds are appreciated for their abstract designs and impressive color as works of art in their own right. Additionally, the figured and fancy woven bed coverlets of the 19th century exemplify the period’s fondness for brilliant color and bold pattern.