Top: Plain- and twill-weave wool. Purple and dark green bars. The gray inner border and the maroon outer border are both lacking corner blocks. However, Beiler has given the suggestion of corner blocks in the outer border by double-quiilting the boundaries of each corner and placing an isolated feather circle within.
Dark green binding was machine applied and finished.
Quilting patterns are the traditional early ones: curved feather outer border, four-petal flower in a diamond in the inner border, and waffle quilting in the center Bars area. Additionally, each curve of feather quilting encompasses a star.
Attributed to Susan Beiler, daughter of "Blue Gate Dan". See Notes.
Provenance
Esprit purchased from American Hurrah in Oct. 1984 for $9,000.
Esprit condition report in file for details of stains/ soil, and discoloration. Small moth holes in maroon border and corner of back.
Object ID
P.02.51.40
Notes
Herr writes: "Blue Gate Dan is said to have been one of the first of the Lancaster County Amish community to open the doors to tourists. The farm in which this was made is located on the south side of U.S. Route 30 just east of Lancaster. It is still called the Blue Gate farm because of the blue painted gate in the front yard leading to the house. The Amish family that now owns the property has a produce and baked-goods stand located along the road next to that blue gate."
