Skip to main content
Crazy Quilt with Striped Ribbon Border

Annie Shakman Heller

Crazy Quilt with Striped Ribbon Border

1879

Scroll

Annie Shakman Heller

Crazy Quilt with Striped Ribbon Border

1879

Physical Qualities Silk, silk and metallic (copper alloy wrapped around a cotton core) embroidery threads, oil paint, silk grosgrain ribbon border, wool lining, 77 1/2 x 76 in. (196.9 x 193 cm.)
Credit Line Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Heller Sachs in Memory of his grandmother, Annie Shakman Heller
Object Number 1976.61
Square crazy quilt with random asymmetrical patchwork composed of many plain and figured fabrics including velvets, moires, velvets, voided cut and cisele velvets,and satins. A black ribbon with woven alternating red and purple poppies is found used in several areas as is a rose-red fabric with a dark (black?) woven stripe featuring a simple floral design. Near to the center of the quilt is a large embroidered sunflower with a painted bird and bee on a black ground. Among the motifs are many embroidered flowers (calla lily, red and blue floral bouquet, yellow flowers with dark ceners, roses, violets), and fruits (cherries, strawberries), and butterflies. Four outline embroideries (boy and girl kissing, boy in Fauntleroy suit with a kite, a girl feeding chickens, and a boy with a toy sail boat) are included. Also present are several printed pictures, possibly tobacco or cigarette premiums, including one featuring an older woman showing a baby to a group of young children, and a related premium showing the same elderly woman quieting two young girls who are looking at the baby in its crib. A pieced and embroidered fan with multicolored fan leaf is found in the center section or the quilt to the top left of the sunflower block. Another fan of tan fabric appliqued and embroidered is found near the upper right corner. Other ornamentation includes embroidered clover, wheat shafts, a three dimensional folded umbrella or parasol of light blue and white silk appliqued on a black patch,an embroidered peacock feather, an appliqued heart, and appliqued folded or gathered roses. Multiple colors and stitches are used in embroidery covering the seams between patches. These include many stitches that create letters of the allphabet.used as decorative lines of stitching. A wide warp faced striped ribbon border with varying widths of brown, dark gold, red, yellow, blue, green, dk. brown, lt. blue, burgundy, and tan.forms a border around the entire edge of the quilt with am embroidered design stitched over the seam attaching the ribbon to the quilt. The quilt is finished with a gold cotton and/or wool lining.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, ex. collection Mr. & Mrs. Philip Heller Sachs, ex. collection Annie Shakman Heller
Anita Jones, "American Crazy Quilts", The Baltimore Museum of Art, June 3 -November 29, 2015.

Maker

Annie Shakman Heller

Born Bohemia between 1851-1854, immigrated 1863, died Baltimore 1933
Meet Annie Shakman Heller

Explore the Collection Further

Augusta Adèle Smith
Crazy Quilt with Center Star and Blue Velvet Border
1882
Pine Tree Center Medallion Quilt with Fifteen Borders
1864
Ida Belle Merryman and Eleanora M. Merryman
Crazy Quilt with Christmas Bookmark
1884
Dorcas Godman Brashear Harvey
Floral Basket Medallion Quilt with Flying Geese Borders
1834
Elizabeth A. Coleman
Crazy Quilt Top
1884
Elizabeth A. Coleman
Crazy Quilt
1890
Roberta Lee Barnes
Crazy Quilt with Wheel Motifs
1886
Attributed to Kate Mattingly Edwards
Crazy Quilt
1880
Minnie K. Minderlein
Crazy Quilt
1884
Crazy Quilt
1884