Description:
Pieced, crewel-embroidered linen quilt made from an earlier bed curtain, which itself was pieced from an even earlier set of embroidered bed hangings. The quilt consists of a large pieced, crewel-embroidered body, with two horizontal areas of piecing at the bottom, and a larger upper portion (this larger portion contains two vertical seams that have been embroidered over and are probably original to the bed curtain. The lower horizontal piecing, taken from the earlier bed hangings, may have been valences but are original to the bed curtain piecing). The two-ply wool (crewel) embroidery is done in at least two shades of blue, and consists of several different kinds of floral sprays or arrangements, including acanthus leaves and grape leaves. All the floral motifs are anchored by a three-mound/hillock ground, and all but the grape leaves have an additional flame-like leaf at the base as well. Many areas of embroidery loss help to reveal the original pattern drawn on in black ink (now faded to dark brown). A pieced linen border is also probably original to the later 18th-century bed curtain construction. However, the matching cotton twill, tape binding; plain weave, off-white cotton backing, cotton batting and blue (probably cotton) tufting were done about 1900. The organization of the floral motifs in the center suggests that it may have been originally made for bed furnishings, possibly a curtain (see HD F.058). The embroidery stitches include New England laid, stem or outline, and herringbone. The floral motifs using acanthus leaves and grape leaves are similar to those found on similar Connecticut River Valley pieces. However, other embroidered motifs, such as the leaves in-filled with geometric patterns similar to those seen on overshot coverlets, are not characteristic of the area. The initials "P/I / L" are embroidered in cross stitch on the proper left side using blue silk floss.
Subjects:
Textile fabrics; Cotton; Embroidery; Linen; Wool Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+F.329 |
