Quilt
PeriodCirca 1775-1800
Place MadeNew York, U.S.A.
MediumCotton
Dimensions104 × 99 in. (264.2 × 251.5 cm)
ClassificationsQuilts and Coverlets
Credit LineGift of Jean Messer Manley and Andrea Massey, 1977
Object number1977.4.5
DescriptionA large quilt with a simple roller printed design of alternating row set chevrons in grayish brown and black. A wide border of roller printed linear meander pattern interspersed with floral bunches, also in grayish brown and purplish black on white ground, is sewn to the sides and "foot" edge of the quilt. The quilt backing is plain white cotton, with a thin batting and quilting in an overall diamond and vine pattern with scallop pattern quilting along the three border panels.Curatorial RemarksAlthough described as a "whole cloth" quilt, this large quilted panel is comprise of two different printed fabrics. The main body of the quilt has at least four pieced panels of a simple print, a chevron printed in alternating offset rows in black and grayish brown. Wide borders of a different fabric are sewn along the long sides and "foot" end of the quilt. Slightly more complex, the second fabric is a meander style vine interspersed with large bunches of floral sprays. Thin foliate and floral sprays are widely spaced across the pattern, all in brownish gray. It is unknown what the original color of the brownish gray tone was - purple was a popular color, and often faded quickly. Black, often with iron oxide in the dye, more often retained its color. As early as 1731, advertisements for "chintz coverlets for beds" appeared in newspapers, imported from England for colonial consumers.NotesAccording to the donors, their great aunt told them that the fabric came to Albany on clipper ships "more than 200 years ago."
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