Quilt

Object Name:

Quilt

Object ID:

1982.034

Creator:

Sawyer, Helen Lane (1895-1992)

Place of Origin:

Concord, NH

Date:

circa 1918

Description:

Quilt. Made by Helen L. Sawyer (1895-1992), Concord, NH; 1918. "Rose of Sharon" pattern. Green and pink flowers appliqued on white cotton with stylized swag design border. Applique quilt with nine blocks of pastel pink and green Rose of Sharon pattern set on point alternating with a plain block to create a grid design. The quilt is bordered with a pink swag. The stitching of the applique is very fine. Within the Rose of Sharon grid, the fine cream-colored muslin foundation fabric is quilted with four wreath patterns. Outside the edges of the swags, feathers are quilted, coalescing in a shell pattern at the top of each join of the swags. The rest of the quilting is a diamond grid pattern. The quilting, done in white cotton thread, is very even at nine stitches to the inch; pencil markings of the quilt pattern are still visible. Quilt appears never to have been washed. Lower corners are cut out to accommodate the lower bed posts; the cut-outs are small at 12" x 11.5". Backing fabric is a muslin of a slightly lower quality. The edges are finished with a bias binding.

Material:

Textile
Cotton

Dimensions:

W-84 L-92 inches

Provenance:

Made by Helen Lane Sawyer (1895-1992). According to family information, Miss Sawyer began the quilt around Armistice Day, 1918, during a period of mourning for her fiance, Allen S. Norton (1893-1918) who died in France during WWI. She married Max Alonzo Norton in 1922 and is the mother of Mary Sawyer Norton Masland and grandmother of Thomas N. Masland, the donors.

Credit Line:

Gift of Mary Sawyer Norton Masland and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Norton Masland

People:

Sawyer, Helen L. (1895-1992), Norton, Allen S. (1893-1918)

Subjects:

Needlework, Quilting, Sewing, Armistice, Memorials, Mourning, Quilts