Quilt Fragment or Valance
Date1775-1800
MediumCotton, linen
Dimensions14" X 81"
Credit LineGift of F. Schumacher and Company.
Object number1978-188
DescriptionThis is a long narrow quilted fragment, block-printed on cotton in two reds and dark brown with additional "pencil" blue in a design consisting of 8 1/2 isolated motifs between printed floral, berry, and feather undulating stripes. The design consists of bouquets of roses, fanciful palm trees with exotic bird beneath, a hunter aiming at a leaping deer under a flowering tree, and a medallion with scrolling borders, birds, and flower baskets angled in the corner. Six smaller floral sprays are scattered above the larger motifs. Quilted with 4 to 5 running stitches per inch through cotton batting and plain-woven natural-color linen backing. The fragment is finished with raw cut edges along one short and one long side, turned in hemming finishing one short side, and plain-woven linen tape binding along long bottom edge.Label TextThis long narrow quilted piece may have been cut from a larger quilt or perhaps used as a valance for the top of a bed. Although it is just a fragment, it nevertheless represents an excellent example of block printing using the madder-derived colors of reds and brown, with the addition of blue brushed on or "penciled" in a separate step.ProvenanceF. Schumacher by gift to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
1750-1790
1750-1790
1750-1790
1710-1740
1800-1825