Quilt

Object Name:

Quilt

Object ID:

1998.033

Creator:

Emerson, Mary (1782-1872)Quilter; Emerson, Mary Anne (1823-1908)

Place of Origin:

Bridgewater, NH

Date:

circa 1838

Description:

Quilt. Whole-cloth, dark blue, plain-woven worsted on the top and olive-brown plain-woven wool on the back. The yarns are spun with a Z-twist, characteristic of homespun yarns; the backing fabric is very coarsely woven at 19 x 20 epi; the selvedge width is 32 inches. Top fabric was certainly professionally finished by a local clothier, who would have dyed and pressed it. It is pieced out along one side with a wool flannel with the characteristic overspun crepe-y look of homespun and home-woven wool. The batting is white wool. The quilted design, which is stitched with dark blue worsted thread at 6 stitches to the inch, consists of a central stem of stylized flowers, flanked by reverse-curved floral vines. This is framed by a zig-zag chain of ovals, followed by a 13-inch-deep border of reverse-curved floral vines. (See drawing in document file.) The top border appears to have been cut off to make it narrower, although the knife edge finish is consistent with the rest of the quilt.

Material:

Textile
Wool

Dimensions:

W-88.4 L-86.75 inches

Provenance:

According to family tradition, the quilt was woven and sewn by Mary Emerson (1782-1872) and/or her daughter Mary A. Emerson (1823-1908) of Bridgewater, NH. The donor, Anne J. Wifholm, is a great-great granddaughter of Mary A. Emerson.

Credit Line:

Gift of Anne J. Wifholm

People:

Emerson, Mary (1782-1872), Emerson, Mary Anne (1823-1908)

Subjects:

Needlework, Quilting, Sewing, Quilts