1880 - 1895 Commemorative Ribbon Parlor Throw
date: label: date made
content: 1880-1895
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description
content: Although this crazy-patched parlor throw is characteristic of the many made in the last part of the 19th century, its many souvenir ribbons, extravagant embroidery, painted patches, typical period motifs, and a multitude of silk and velvet fabric samples combine to make it unique. Thirteen printed campaign and club ribbons dating from 1884 to1890 support Grover Cleveland as president and commemorate organizations such as the Iroquois or Americus Clubs. A “Kate Greenaway” ribbon also adorns the throw. Kate Greenway (1846-1901) was a famous English children’s book illustrator whose images appear on other quilts in the Collection.
label: Description
content: Twelve large crazy-patched blocks, varying in size, were assembled to make this throw. It has a light blue cotton lining, which is machine-seamed, with a cotton filling. The black satin border is machine stitched with black silk. The embroidery on the throw includes the following stitches: French knot, feather, chain, straight, stem, detached chain, herringbone, and buttonhole. Embroidery stitches cover all the seams and decorate some of the patchwork pieces. There is no binding. Instead the top and lining are machine-seamed face to face on three sides, turned right side out, and the fourth side is whipped by hand. It is tied every 12 1/2 inches with light blue silk.
label: Description
content: The quilt was donated by Arthur Wallace Dunn Jr. in memory of his father. Arthur Wallace Dunn Sr. (1859-1926) was a newspaper political correspondent and author who often toured the country with presidential candidates. One of the printed ribbons “Reporter National Democratic Convention 1888” may have held particular significance for him. Another patch is embroidered with the name, “Lillian.” Arthur Wallace Dunn Sr. married Lillian J. Nash in 1890. Perhaps his wife made this throw, incorporating ribbons her husband had collected as souvenirs.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States
topic: label: Subject
content: Quilting
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Textiles
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content: Government, Politics, and Reform
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content: Family & Social Life
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content: Textiles
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content: Domestic Furnishings
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content: Quilts
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Commander Arthur Wallace Dunn, Jr.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TE.T12899
label: accession number
content: 245700
label: catalog number
content: T12899
objectType: label: Object Name
content: quilt
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: fabric, silk, satin, velvet, taffeta, ribbon, cotton (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: thread, silk, cotton, metallic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: filling, cotton (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 62 in x 44 in; 156 cm x 112 cm