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Mosaic Quilt

1849-1879

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Mosaic Quilt

1849-1879

Physical Qualities Silk, 66 1/2 x 62 1/2 in. (168.9 x 158.8 cm.)
Credit Line Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Greif, Jr., Lutherville, Maryland
Object Number 2016.104
A small silk quilt with a quilt top pieced in a "Mosaic" or "Grandmother's Flower Garden" pattern created of over 5500 tiny (approx. 13/16") hexagons cut from silk fabrics. These include many pastels or beige, lt. green, lt. blue-green, pink, mauve, white and cream, but also bright reds, darker greens, bright blues, and other colors. The fabrics are both solid and figured, some appearing as small figured damasks in multiple colorways of red, yellow, blue-green, etc. Others in multicolored weaves with small floral, striped, plaid, or other patterns. One unusual fabric is of white ground with larger blue flowers. Another has a dark ground with a beige leaf-like design. Some have small-sized floral brocades; others small geometric designs that appear in multiple colorways. The center hexagons and the surrounding hexagons (the flower "petals” if Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern name is used) are chosen very carefully to coordinate. The backing is a seamed silk (approximately 4 narrow widths) of lavender/mauve color with a monochromatic strip and a small woven floral motif in the same mauve plus white, blue, and orange. The lower three sides of the quilt are bound in a figured silk tape approx.1 " wide added from the back and featuring a repeated small woven motif that appears almost embroidered. Batting, possibly of cotton or wool, is present. The piecing throughout the top is by hand as is the quilting, which is stitched in concentric floral designs around a center circle (easier to view from the reverse). The top binding is approximately 1" wide with 5/8" on the front and 3/8" on the reverse of the quilt. This finishing and the quality of the silk backing make the quilt reversible. All piecing and seaming appears to be by hand.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 2016; Nanette and Irvin Greif, Jr. by purchase.
Gunn, Virginia. 'Template Quilt Construction and Its Offshoots From Godey's Lady's Book of Mountain Mist,'
Lasansky, Jeannette. 'Pieced By Mother': Symposium Papers, Lewisburg, PA.: Oral Traditions Project, 1988, pp. 69-75.
Gunn, Virginia. 'Victorian Silk Template Patchwork in American Periodicals 1850-1875,' Uncoverings, 1983.
Garoutte, Sally. (Ed.), Mill Valley, CA.: American Quilt Study Group, 1984, pp. 9-25.
Colby, Averil. "Patchwork." London: B.T. Batsford, Ltd., 1958, pp. 35-44.
Houch, Carter. 'English Piecing.' "The Quilt Encyclopedia, Illustrated." N.Y.: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1991, pp. 64-66.
Peck, Amelia. "American Quilts & Coverlets in The Metropolitan Museum of Art." N.Y.: MMA and Dutton Studio Books, 1990, pp. 72-77, p. 189, p. 191.
Hechtlinger, Adelaide. " American Quilts, Quilting, and Patchwork." Harrisburg, PA.: Stackpole Books, 1974, p. 238, fig. 68.
Haders, Phyllis Haders. "The Warner Collector's Guide to American Quilts." n.p.: The Main Street Press, 1981, p. 115.
Hall, Carrie A. and Kretsinger, Rose G..."The Romance of the Patchwork Quilt in America." Caldwell, Idaho: Caston Printers, Ltd., 1935, pp. 86-88.
Khin, Yvonne M. The Collector's Dictionary of Quilt Names & Patterns." N.Y.: Portland House, 1988, pp. 272-274
'Our Work-Basket,' "Demorest's Monthly Magazine" (August 1867), p. 250
Brackman, Barbara. " An Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns." Vol. 1, rev. Lawrence, Kansas: Prairie Flower Publishing, 1984. Patterns #160k and #160l are similar, but not identical to this pattern.

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