Album Summer Quilt
Unidentified Quilt Maker
Circa 1860
85 x 85 inches
Ex-Judy Roche Quilt Collection
The twenty five blocks in this Album Quilt are hand appliqued ~ with the exception of the center Sunflower design, pieced by someone very skilled. The blocks are separated with a tiny solid red piping, a rare feature found almost exclusively in early quilts.
The quilt is bound and finished, so we can surmise that it was always meant as a lightweight summer quilt, with no batting or back.
While in imperfect condition in places, there are blocks that are clean and intact. As is visible in the photos, there is some water staining, other discoloration, some significant fading in others, and a few of the printed fabrics have started to weaken.
Still, a good example of American quilt history for study or teaching.