Amish quilt, Ninepatch Variation, circa 1920. Perhaps unique form for Lancaster Co. Amish due to unusual pattern, mixed quilting designs of traditional and rare, inner border of only 2 sides. Unusual combination of 9-patch and 3-patch blocks.
Top: Plain- and twill-weave wool. Nine pieced multi-color blocks within very wide (5") blue/gray inner sashing. Balanced arrangement of 3-patch and 9-patch blocks. Wine/lavender inner border on 2 sides. Green outer border with pink corner blocks.
Back: Blue & white cotton chambray.
Binding is 1.25" wide navy color, machine sewn to back, turned and machine stitched to front.
Quilting: Done in black thread, 9-patch center blocks are waffle and 3-patch blocks have large tulips. Inner border/sashing has closely quilted floral vines. Cable design in the 2 lavendar inner border bars. Beautiful innovative design in outer border is large hearts filled with clamshell motifs and open areas are filled with fern-like leaves. Corners have a nicely designed basket motif with a single tulip flanked by a pair of large scallops.
Provenance
Esprit purchased from Jan Cox of Mill Valley, CA in April 1985 for $8,000.
General surface discoloration of grey/purple center fabric, esp. along fold lines and top and bottom. Stains & soil in center area and dark soil mark in red corner, Tiny darned holes in gray center.
Lancaster Amish quilt, Ninepatch Variation, c. 1930. Intricate version of the otherwise simple 9-patch design.
Top: Plain- and twill-weave cotton. Ninepatch blocks of red & blue and khaki & green alternates. Orchid inner border with blue corners and sawtooth inner border of green and red. Outer border is purple with green corners.
Back: Dark green twill-print of plain-weave cotton.
Quilting: Ninepatch blocks are waffle, solid blocks are a 6-point star within a circle fringed with nine petals. Inner border has cable and corner blocks are 6-point stars. Additional inner border of sawtooth has conforming lines of triangles. Outer border as scrolling feather and corners have a 6-point star within a feather wreath.
Provenance
Esprit purchased from Mary Strickler Quilts, San Rafael, CA in 1980 for $6,400.
