Wholecloth Quilt
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Unknown
QuiltmakerQuilted by
Unknown
Date1750-1825
MediumHand-stitched embroidery; crewel wool on plain-woven linen; wool batting; cotton thread
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 71 1/2 x 88in. (181.6 x 223.5cm)
Component (height x width of headcloth): 64 1/2 x 61 1/2in. (163.8 x 156.2cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1982.58.0
DescriptionWholecloth quilt consisting of a plain-woven linen top, wool batting, and a plain-woven linen backing; these three layers are hand-stitched together with a grid quilting pattern. The quilt top is made from a headcloth, part of a set of bed hangings, with hand-stitched designs in crewel, or two-ply worsted wool. The crewel wool is in many bright colors, including light medium and dark blue, red, medium and light pink, blue-green, yellow, orange and white. The quilt top is decorated with large and small designs of sprays of flowers and fruit on vines. In the center is a large yellow flower with four buds and four leaves emerging from it. Above this is a large bird with colorful feathers.
The headcloth is constructed of two wide panels of linen flanked by a narrow panel of linen; each of these was hand-stitched together prior to the embroidery. The backing is constructed of three panels of linen, oriented horizontally, that are taller and significantly wider than the head cloth. The top panel has a wide hem at the top that is folded down over the top edge of the head cloth.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the quilt top is roumanian (oriental); it also includes outline, encroaching satin, long and short, satin, herringbone, darning, Algerian eyelet, and buttonhole.
Condition: The headcloth is in poor condition; the majority of the crewel is intact, while the ground has an overwhelming number of small and medium-size holes. A strip of linen at the top left edge of the head cloth is replaced; the ground is yellowed. Portions of the wool batting are missing from beneath the head cloth; all of the wool batting is missing over the exposed backing. The backing is stained and yellowed. The backing has no hem at the side and bottom edges and has several holes. The backing shows signs of more extensive quilting that has been removed; the quilting across the head cloth is intact.
The headcloth is constructed of two wide panels of linen flanked by a narrow panel of linen; each of these was hand-stitched together prior to the embroidery. The backing is constructed of three panels of linen, oriented horizontally, that are taller and significantly wider than the head cloth. The top panel has a wide hem at the top that is folded down over the top edge of the head cloth.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the quilt top is roumanian (oriental); it also includes outline, encroaching satin, long and short, satin, herringbone, darning, Algerian eyelet, and buttonhole.
Condition: The headcloth is in poor condition; the majority of the crewel is intact, while the ground has an overwhelming number of small and medium-size holes. A strip of linen at the top left edge of the head cloth is replaced; the ground is yellowed. Portions of the wool batting are missing from beneath the head cloth; all of the wool batting is missing over the exposed backing. The backing is stained and yellowed. The backing has no hem at the side and bottom edges and has several holes. The backing shows signs of more extensive quilting that has been removed; the quilting across the head cloth is intact.
Status
Not on view
