Images(3)

Quilt, "Blue Leaves and Flowers"

Dateca. 1955

Maker Dorothy "Dot" Davidson Shaifer American, 1908 - 2005

Maker Laura Percy "Dear Laura" Shaifer American, 1892 - 1983

OriginAmerica, Mississippi, Claiborne County

MediumCotton

Dimensions92 1/2 X 78 1/2 inches

Credit LineGift of The Children of Elizabeth Shaifer Hollingsworth - Allison Shaifer Hollingsworth Moxey, Ann Davidson Hollingsworth Weeden and Christopher Alton Hollingsworth, and The Children of Sanfrid Davidson Shaifer - Mary Laura Shaifer Bell, Jodie Stovall Shaifer Huddleston and Sanfrid Davidson Shaifer, Jr.

Object number2025.609.23

DescriptionRectangular kit quilt of blue and white cross stitch design. The quilt has a white center rectangle with 12 floral and leaf medallions cross stitched in two shades of blue. The wide borders on all four sides feature white cross-stitched flowers and leaves growing inward from the quilt edges. Quilt is hand-stitched with running stitches at 8 to 9 stitches per inch following a pre-printed design of scrolls, parallel lines, repeated hearts forming feather bands, and tulips. Medium thickness cotton batting. The white cotton backing and blue cotton front are folded inward at the edges and stitched. This quilt is one of a pair.Label TextThis quilt is part of a large donation of quilts by the Shaifer family of Claiborne County, MS. These 46 quilts were made by women from four successive generations of the family, dating from the mid-1800s to the 1980s. These quilts document a variety of patterns and quilting styles; though many of the Shaifer makers favored piecing, they also tried out kit quilts and applique.

In the mid-20th century, the Shaifers blended several needlework pursuits, completing a series of cross-stitch quilt kits. They often made these in pairs. This blue and white cross-stitched quilt, one of a pair, was worked by sisters-in-law Laura Percy Shaifer (1892-1983) and Dorothy Davidson Shaifer (1908-2005), likely at the Shaifer family home on Church Street, in Port Gibson, MS. The quilt likely has additional collaborators- the Shaifers were often assisted by neighbors or even sent out projects to be quilted.ProvenanceProbably 1950s, Dorothy "Dot" Davidson (Mrs. Sanfrid) Shaifer [1908-2005] and Laura Percy Shaifer [1892-1983] (Claiborne County, MS); dates unknown, probably descended to Elizabeth "Libby" Shaifer (Mrs. Al) Hollingsworth [1933-2016]; 2025, gift of Shaifer family via Al Hollingsworth to Colonial Williamsburg (Williamsburg, VA)