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Members of the First German Reformed Church, Baltimore and Elias Heiner

Baltimore Album Quilt

1846-1847

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Baltimore Album Quilt

1846-1847

Physical Qualities Cotton; silk, wool, and metallic embroidery threads; ink, 106 × 105 1/2 in. (269.2 × 268 cm.)
Credit Line Gift of Nancy Campbell, Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Elizabeth Fulford, Washington, D.C.
Object Number 2016.183
A Baltimore Album Quilt formed of 25 blocks, each approximately 16-17" square, including chintz appliqué, pieced appliqué from solid and printed calico, reverse appliqué, and embroidery. Four «early high-style » blocks similar to those found on the Samuel Williams quilt (BMA 1988.206) and other high style Baltimore album quilts are included. These depict the First German Reformed Church of Baltimore, an urn, a compote, and a double wreath. A cornucopia in the « mature high style » is also found. Other blocks include mostly wreaths and floral arrangements. Some designs are further embellished with embroidery in silk, wool, and in one case, with metalic-wrapped threads. Each quilt block is inscribed in black ink by hand or possibly stamp with a Bible verse and signature and/or date. A 10-1/2 to 10-3/4" border surrounding the quilt on all sides consists of an appliquéd dogtooth border of green-ground, black-figured cotton print flanking simple appliquéd floral sprigs composed of stems of the same fabric and solid red three-petaled blossoms. Appliqué within the border is done with very fine, hidden stitches. Quilting is in feather, floral, outline, and chevron patterns. Quilting stitches are approximately 17-18 stitches per inch (counting top and bottom stitches) through three layers, including batting (probablly cotton). The quilt backing is made of three panels of plainwoven cotton of uneven widths (25-3/4" / 40" /39") seamed together by hand. This is brought forward on all four edges, turned under and sewn to create a neat 1/8" binding.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 2016; ex. coll. Elizabeth Fulford [Miller] and Nancy Campbell, via inheritance, 2015 from Brooke Fulford (father of donor); via inheritance from Elizabeth Seaton Fulford (mother of Brooke Fulford); via inheritance from Mae G. Slick (mother of Elizabeth Seaton Fuller), via inheritance ....from original owner Rev. Elias Heiner, Baltimore, presented in 1848.
Dena Katzenberg, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Baltimore Album Quilts," Baltimore, Maryland, 1980.

Jennifer F. Goldsborough, 'Baltimore Album Quilts,' The Magazine Antiques (March 1994), pp. 412-421.

William Rush Dunton, Jr., "Old Quilts," Catonsville, Maryland: 1947.

Jennifer Faulds Goldsborough. "Lavish Legacies: Baltimore Album and Related Quilts in the Maryland Historical Society." Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society, 1994, pp. re Horton quilt.

Inscribed: Handwritten and/or stamped on individual quilt squares in ink: [A1] Anna C. deBeet “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” [A2] Sarah Ensor “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that sayeth unto Zion, thy God reineth” [sic?] Isaiah 52nd Chapter 7th verse [A3] Ellen Muller “When they liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; Yea thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet” Proverbs Chapter 3, 24th verse [A4] Anna M. Gekler “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth salvation; that sayeth unto Zion, thy God reineth” Isaiah 52nd Chapter 7th verse [Same verse as A2] [A5] Margaret A. Hoff “Judge not and ye shall not be judged; condemn not and ye shall not be condemned; forgive and ye shall be forgiven” Luke 6th Chapter, 27th verse [B1] Gertrude H. Horton “And God shall wipe away tears from their eyes” [Note, continues in Bible but not on quilt: "and there shall be no more death" [Revelations 21:4] *?* [B2] Henrietta M. "Friendship’s Offering: Accept my gift; Affection brought that poor the offering be it flows from friendship’s purest spring a tribute this – for thee But [let it?] be a sister’s love from me to thee” [B3] Rosina Herring Baltimore June 21st 1847 [B4] Mary Duhurst “Tis not a cause of small import the Pastor’s care demands but what might fill an angel’s heart it fill’d a saviour’s hands” [B5] Mary A. Smith 2 Cor. 1:2 “Grace and Peace to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” [C1] Susannah Craggs “One thing have I desired of the Lord which I will require; even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord and to visit his temple.” Psalms 27th 4th verse [C2] Matilda E. Rhodes To Rev. E Heiner from Matilda E. Rhodes “How beautiful up the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth salvation, that sayth unto Zion, thy God reignth” [sic] LII, Chapter, 7 verse Isaiah [C3] Margaret Miller To the Rev. Heiner Second St. Church Margaret Miller Baltimore May 15, 1848" [C4] Emiline M. Reese “Grace be unto you and peace from Him which is, and which was, [?] and which is to come. . . .” Revelations 1:4 [C5] Elizabeth A. Duhurst “I sat down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” [Note: Source is Song of Solomon 2:3; spoken by the bride about her beloved] [D1] Elizabeth Diffenderffer “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” Matthew 5th Chapter 8th verse [D2] Anna Boyer “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Rev. 2nd June 8th 1847 [D3] Sophia Shaw “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” November 5, 1847 Proverbs 11th Chapter 30th [D4] Laura Diffenderffer “Yeah the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.” 85 Psalm verse 12 [D5] Sophia Watlington “How beautiful are the feet of them that present the gospel of peace” Romans 10 Chapter 15th verse [E1] Mary J. Cockey “Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts” [Note: Psalm 119:173] [E2] Lizzy Griffith “To Rev. E. Heiner Thou hast taught me in the way of wisdom; thou hast led me in the right path” Proverbs 4:11 [Note: Changed from the original “I have taught thee, I have led thee”] [E3] Christiana Gelbach “The sower soweth the word” [Note: Source: Mark 4:14] [E4] Eliza M. Maynard “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” [Matthew 5th Chapter 8th verse] E5 Susan C. Diffenderffer “Blessed are the merciful, for they should obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” [Matthew 5:7-8]

Makers

Members of the First German Reformed Church, Baltimore

2000–2000

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Made for

Elias Heiner

1809–1862

American, 1810-1863
Meet Elias →

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