All cotton quilt of large blocks, each with white ground and floral applique done with "broderie Perse" technique. Wreath designs alternate with clustered floral sprays. Blocks have sashing and border using a green floral print in a Maryland Stairstep design. Wide outer border of white ground is filled with same floral applique technique, but arranged in an undulating line. A final narrow outer border uses the same green Maryland Stairstep design. White cotton backing is brought forward and hand stitched to make binding.
Has a wide range of hand quilting done with white thread in center blocks: wreaths, various flowers, potted plants, leaves, lattice, parallel diagonals and a grid. Outer white border is filled with a pattern of tiny fans.
Tradition states quilt was started in 1795 and took two generations to finish, circa 1830.
Provenance
File notes "Presented by Mr. Harry Hostetter for Mrs. A.K. Hostetter" (Ida L. Kegerreis Hostetter)
Areas of bad fading,especially along border, a variety of stains including large liquid stains, soiling, white paint drips, and various holes and deteriorated fabric. Appliqued chintz in some center blocks is badly deteriorated with strong losses, especially 3 of the blocks and at one end.
Framed Center white cotton quilt has pieced work as well as appliqued cut-out images from an English block-printed cotton chintz that dates from the 1780s. This applique technique (here using colorful birds and branches) is known as "broderie perse" or Persian embroidery.
Center medallion has two birds of prey and flowering branches. Inner border is defined by sawtooth applique of chintz. Outer border continues with broderie perse applique of flowering branches and smaller exotic birds resembling peacocks with long trailing tails.
Quilting patterns: undulating feather in outside border with filled-in areas of waffle and vine-and-berry. Center has vine-and-berry with waffle. Inner border has a rope pattern.
Quilt has white cotton back and cotton batting.
Possibly Northeastern Lancaster County.
Provenance
Quilt was purchased by the Dykes in East or West Cocalico Twp.
Very good overall. Light brown liquid stains, especially in right center area. sprinking of small light brown stains overall.
Object ID
P.77.35.1
Notes
See "Quilts in America" by P. & B. Orlofsky (cover and p.225) for a c. 1803 quilt with this appliqued print. Label states this chintz print was "cut out of a 1780s English block-printed chintz of the type favored in England and France at that time and very popular in American quilts in the late 18th and early 19th centuries."
See also Weissman and Lavitt, "Labors of Love", p. 42.
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
All-cotton quilt with appliqued Tulip pattern; has 35 center blocks, 12" square, 18 of which have appliqued tulips. All done on white cotton ground. Appliqued blocks are straight set with solid white blocks as alternates. Quilt is machine pieced, hand appliqued and hand quilted. White solid border is 14 3/4" wide at sides and bottom, 7" wide at top, with mitered corners.
Tulip pattern done in solids and prints of green, blue, yellow and red.
Moderate amount of quilting follows applique and piecing designs. Floral or snowflake in plain blocks and border. Pieced by Edna Spangler Keefer (3/30/1912 - 6/6/1997). Quilting was done by a sheltered workshop and is not of high quality with some uneven stitches. Pencil lines still visible.
White cotton solid binding. Batting is mid-weight cotton. Backing is pieced white cotton.
Provenance
Provenance: Top made by donor's mother, Edna Spangler Keefer, and quilting done by a sheltered workshop. Edna was raised in York Springs area although the quilt was made while Edna and husband Dale were living in Sharon, Mercer Co. Inherited by donor.
Family Album pattern quilt is a personalized commercial pattern made of all cottons. Top has 20 12-inch appliqued blocks of solid colors and prints on white ground. Appliqued blocks are set straight with 2.5" blue sashing and 8.5" white mitered borders all four sides. Machine pieced, with hand applique and hand quilting.
Six center blocks are personalized to portray Keefer family history. Two central blocks have maker and husband's names, "DALE" and "EDNA". Center blocks above have house and standing couple. House does represent actual house, according to donor. Lower center blocks are a cradle with daughter Betsy's name and birthdate, and the other block has the church with 1938 marriage date. Donor does not believe her parents were married in a church. Remaining 14 blocks provide a frame for the central six. All 20 blocks portray very Dutchy floral and bird motifs. Vivid colors are blue, red, yellow, green and black.
Batting is mid-weight cotton. Backing is a white cotton. Binding of white cotton on bias is 3/8" wide. Hand quilting has good even stitches and follows the applique designs while sashing has a chain pattern. Borders have parallel lines in which pencil marks are still visible.
Top four inches of quilt were folded back and stitched to create a sleeve for hanging. Stitches now removed.
Provenance
Made by donor's mother, Edna Spangler Keefer (3/30/1912 - 6/6/1997), while living in Sharon, Mercer Co. Inherited by donor who was their only child.
Paint and herringbone, chain, buttonhole, stem, and running stitches on commercial cotton fabric, with commercial synthetic fringe. Machine-pieced top in Diamond in a Square type pattern on white background. Sashing to make diamond and square forms are pieced with blue and white cotton. Blue pieces are outlined in blue running stitch on their short sides. Points of square and diamond are white fabric, with blue running stitch in square form.
Painted floral wreath in center diamond, with an embroidered bow in blue buttonhole. Wreath includes five roses in pink and red; greenery; blue, pink, yellow, purple, and orange flowers; and red berried sprigs.
Triangular areas, outside of diamond, each contain 4 painted flowers. One blue flower in each outside corner, with orange center. Three flowers along diamond edge. One five-lobed yellow flower, with orange center. One large pink and red rose, with greenery. One purple five-lobed flower, with orange center. Floral vine and leaf outer border. Five-lobed pink flowers worked in blanket stitch, with stem stitch highlights. Vine worked in green herringbone stitch. Leaves in green blanket stitch, with chain and stem highlights. Machine-applied commercial synthetic twisted fringe on four sides.
Back is machine-pieced white cotton. Shows evidence of embroidered green leaves, blue running stitch and ribbon, and pink highlights.
Original inventory number--630.
Provenance
Collected by George Lyster in Lancaster Co. Intended as a gift, entire collection remains on loan.
