1840 - 1860 Hexagon Silk Quilt
date: label: date made
content: 1840-1860
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description
content: Using an elaborate silk quilt, such as this hexagon example, in the parlor gave the accomplished needlewoman an opportunity to show off her work. This unknown maker displayed both her design and needlework skills as evidenced in the intricate pieced work, embroidery, and quilting on both quilts which were combined to make one.
label: Description
content: The large star shapes on the top quilt are composed of 1-3/8-inch silk hexagons. Each shape is contained within a ring of black hexagons, further set off by another circle of stars made of 5/8-inch diamonds. In contrast, the center focus is a rose, embroidered in chenille yarn, on black velvet. This is echoed by the 4-1/2-inch black velvet border embroidered in a rosebud vine pattern. It is completed with a cotton filling and red cotton lining, and quilted with outline stitching on the hexagons and diamonds.
label: Description
content: A second quilt is made of red silk with cotton filling and a printed cotton lining. It too is quilted, using red silk thread, in diagonal grid, feather plume, and circle quilting patterns. The quilting on both is 14 to 15 stitches per inch. The two complete quilts are stitched together around the edges and finished with a green binding.
label: Description
content: The fine quilting, the use of a variety of silks and velvets, and the intricate work all contribute to this impressive example of needlecraft from the later part of the 19th century.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: World
topic: label: Subject
content: Quilting
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Textiles
label: See more items in
content: Textiles
label: See more items in
content: Domestic Furnishings
label: See more items in
content: Quilts
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Mr. Stewart Dickson
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TE.T12917
label: accession number
content: 246047
label: catalog number
content: T12917
objectType: label: Object Name
content: quilt
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: fabric, silk, velvet, cotton (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: thread, silk, cotton, chenille (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: filling, cotton (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 74 in x 65 in; 187 cm x 166 cm