Baskets pattern quilt made by Amish woman Sarah Stoltzfus (b. 6/17/1923), circa 1939 when she would have been about 16 years old. This pattern is very unusual among the Lancaster Amish.
Pieced wool top blocks on point. Pink baskets of crepe rayon(?) on a field of green alternate with turquoise-blue blocks. Wide border of green and a binding of turquoise blue, turned front to back. Back is a blue cotton print with white dots. Cotton batting.
Hand quilted in black running stitch. Border has vining flowers, tied with a bow in corners. Turquoise blocks have an unusual circle fringed with triangle points and a triple-line cross within dividing it into quadrants. Basket blocks have cable, shell and parallel lines as well as a basket "handle."
Made by Sarah Stoltzfus for herself to go to housekeeping. Her mother chose the pattern from her sister and neighbor Katie Smoker Glick (wife of "Red John" Glick) and also purchased the fabric in stores in Intercourse and New Holland. Sarah's parents were John P. Stoltzfus and Amanda L. Smoker Stoltzfus. Sarah did all the piecing and most of the quilting w/ perhaps some help from her sister.
Note: This quilt is very similar to two other quilts (owned by Trish Herr and Jay & Susan Leary).
RD#1 Millwood Rd., Gap, PA 17527, Salisbury Twp.
Provenance
Sold by maker in 1988 to Tom Wentzel of Lititz, a dealer, who sold to M. Finkel & Daughter, dealers on Pine St. in Phila. (all transactions occurred in the same year). See 2004 fieldwork notes of Rachel Pellman.
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
Quilt, pieced top of silk octagons, cotton batting, dark green velvet backing, tied (not quilted) with green yarns. Pieced top only was made by Marianna Gibbons while living at her farm, Beechdale, just north of Bird-in-Hand. Octagonal patches made Dec. 18, 1893 to March 17, 1894, except for final embroidered center patch. Quilt top likely completed soon after, during 1894. but definitely before her 1902 marriage to Oram David Brubaker (1862-1929), since she used intials MG instead of MGB.
Top has 25 blocks, each with 25 octagons. Each 8 1/2-inch block uses different silk fabrics; solids, prints and velvets. The 25 blocks are separated by an inner sash of dark green ribbed fabric, 1 1/2" wide. Only the squares at the intersections of the sashes are different, a midnight blue velvet (although many are worn off to show a black fabric backing). Outer border is dark green silk 4 1/2" wide and mitered at the corners. Center block containing alternating yellow and black octagons has the embroidered initials "MG" in center and the remaining yellow ones are embroidered with flowers.
Provenance
Provenance: Descent in Brubaker family to step-granddaughter Margaret Thompson Herr (donor's cousin). When Margaret died, donor acquired the quilt at the circa 1980 estate sale in Quarryville for ten dollars. Donor is also a step-granddaughter of maker.
Donor states that at some point before she bought the quilt, "church ladies" had put a pale green, quilted backing on it and secured it with ties. It had not been finished by Marianna Gibbons. Donor eventually replaced it during the 1980s with something more to her taste -- the present backing of dark green polyester velvet. It is secured at the corners of each of the 25 blocks with ties knotted at the back.
History: Donor reports that the Dr. Joseph and Phebe Earle Gibbons family were Quakers and their farm, Beechdale, was a primary station on the Underground Railroad. (The house itself is now gone, and the farm is now a horse farm.) Jack Brubaker (the Scribbler) owns the diaries of Marianna and her mother. The donor has worked on transcribing the diaries for years. Both women were well educated and accomplished. Marianna earned two degrees at Millersville Normal School in 1871 and 1872, was a writer, was well travelled and lectured with the temperance movement (W.C.T.U.). After Marianna completed the quilt, she married in 1902 a widower who was 14 years her junior, with 9 children aged 6 - 19. Oram David Brubaker & children came to live on his new wife's farm since she had a large farm and greater wealth. With trees and water, the 56-acre farm became a duck farm.
Generally very good. Some silk octagons are deteriorating and some velvet has lost its nap. The quilt had been finished by "church ladies" at some time while owned by Margaret T. Herr. Donor disliked it so replaced it with a polyester velvet in the 1980s. Small bleach spot on outer border.
Object ID
G.03.18.1
Place of Origin
Bird-in-Hand, East Lampeter Twp.
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of Marian Brubaker, Heritage Center Collection
Signature quilt presumably made for the marriage of John L. Shot / Ghot (unknown) and Fannie Gish (24 January 1835 - 26 February 1916), by friends and family in Rapho and Mount Joy Twp. area. The Gish family were Mennonite farmers & are buried in Keener Cemetery, Manheim -- including "Fannie M. Gish" (name not changed to Shot). Marriage apparently did not occur and she continued to live in parents' home through old age, always listed as single.
Pieced top of printed cottons in red, green and yellow, except for white signature blocks. There are 25 blocks of varying prints pieced into a geometric floral design. At center of each is a 3.75" square of white cotton with a name in cursive done in running stitch with red thread. At top left, the square reads: "John. L. Shot (or Ghot) / Fannie Gish/ was made in/ the year/ 1854." Outer border and sashing are the same printed fabric of green and yellow.
Back is a red and pink cotton print, wrapped to front to create a self-binding. Cotton batting.
Provenance
Purchased by Herrs Antiques (Trish) in 1990 from the estate of John Getz (1901-1986), Pitt St., in Manheim. Family members believed his wife, Sue Gish Ober Getz, was the granddaughter of Fannie Gish, but research instead identifies Peter and Mary Nissley Gish as Sue's grandparents. Quilt recipient Fannie Gish remained single with no known issue. Quilt likely descended within the Gish family to John and Sue Getz and due to its excellent condition, seems to have never been used.
Very good condition; used little if at all. White squares show light brown staining.
Object ID
P.90.02
Notes
A John Schott was found who was born in France on 1 Aug 1793 and died in Marietta 10 Oct 1860. He is buried in the Marietta Union Meeting House Cemetery.
Place of Origin
Mount Joy Twp. and Rapho Twp.
Credit
Generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Friendship quilt of white cotton, both top and back, with names of church members handwritten on it. Nine-patch variation blocks on point are made of dark red and white and alternate with white blocks. Dark red fabric has a small-scale print of flowering vine in black. Outside border is 7.5" wide on all four sides. Little or no batting; narrow binding is back brought forward. Quilt patterns includes triple cable in border with variety of motifs within each white block.
161 S. Main St., Shrewsbury, York County, Pennsylvania
Names handwritten by one person in ink. Four names within each 9-patch block and the remainder within the half-blocks at perimeter.
Quilt was made by the Reformed Church congregation in Shrewsbury, York Co., for their pastor, Rev. Hiram J. Hillegass. Hillegass was raised in Coopersburg, PA and was graduated from the Lancaster Theological Seminary. Presented to Rev. Hillegass reportedly as a farewill gift, probably c. 1907, by his Shrewsbury church congregation as he was taking a new pastorate at the Mechanicsburg (now Leola) church, Salem U.C.C. of Hellers, Lancaster County. Hillegas served 1895-1907 in York Co. and the congregation wanted to be remembered by this quilt signed with all 363 names of the members (handwritten list by Jean Hillegass, in file).
Provenance
Passed from Hiram J. Hillegass to son Russell to grandson Harold (donor). Harold and Jean are selling their home and retiring to Masonic Village, so wanted to find a good home for quilt.
Two small (3 1/4 x 4 1/4) portrait photos of both Rev. Hiram J. Hillegass & Mrs. Hiram (Euphemia Kern) Hillegass in file. Taken perhaps around their time of marriage. Also in file is clipped signature of H.J. Hillegass.
Signature quilt, Bear's Paw or Goose Tracks pattern, made of pieced and appliqued solid red and white cottons. Bear's Paw blocks are 9.5-10", made of 9 squares. The four corner white squares each have 2 red triangles & a square appliqued onto white to created pattern. Each center patch has a hand-penned signature.
Upper left block reads: "THE PROPERTY of Elizabeth Mann of Manor Township County of LANCASTER PA 1852." Remaining 35 blocks bear signatures of relatives and friends from Lancaster, York and Union Counties. Design blocks separated by 4" wide pieced white sashing; several horizontal sashes misaligned. Red binding stitched to front, wrapped and stitched to back. Backing is the same white cotton.
Hand quilted in white. Design blocks have lattice except for parallel lined in signature patch. Vertical sashing has vine with large flowers and large round berries? on vine. Horizontal sashing has large flower flanked by two long leaves and a line of rings within.
Made by family and friends of Elizabeth B. Mann (1832-1906) before her 1854 marriage to Eli C. Shuman (1830-1916), son of Jacob and Fanny Shuman of Washington Boro. See NOTES
Provenance
Quilt passed from maker to daughter Ida Shuman Willis to daughter Miriam K. Willis (single) who, at age 85, sold the quilt to Michael Rizzuto, an appraiser in York Springs, Pa. He then sold to Heritage Center.
Top has a sprinkling of various small stains and light soil. Back has increased soil, many small stains with some very dark.
Structurally very good condition.
Object ID
P.88.13.1
Notes
Elizabeth and Eli moved in 1860 to a 200-acre farm called "Bunker Hill Farm" in the Good Hope area of Cumberland Co. They raised 10 children and were then buried at Hope United Methodist Church on the Carlisle Pike.
See file for listing of signature names, places and relationships.
Place of Origin
Manor Twp.
Credit
Generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Friendship quilt, Variable Star pattern, made for and/or by Sarah Jane Taylor and signed by her friends, family and relatives. Made of pieced, mostly small-scale cotton prints, front and back, except for 3-inch-square white signature patches.
Quilt consists of seven columns of eight large blocks (8.75" square) in each (total of 56). Each block has various printed cottons with a variant star at the center and a white signature patch at the center of each star. Some signatures signed by hand in ink and some stamped. Most are Lancaster County, some are other counties and several are states such as Indiana and New Jersey. Dates range from 1843 to 1850. Sarah Jane Taylor patch is a bird-heart-flower oval stamp in 5th column, 3rd from bottom.
Blocks separated by inner sash of green print with black stripes. A wider portion of this print forms left border. Batting is wool. Hand-quilted in white w/ undetermined floral/foliate design. Wide left border has a 3-line cable pattern. Backing is a cotton print of black "T" shapes on white ground.
Quilt cut at top and right side, probably with a loss of the entire column of eight squares (as suggested by Amy Finkel appraisal). Edge is then finished with front bound to back. Bottom and left edges have original 1/4" binding of printed cotton, backing brought forward.
Provenance
Descent from Sarah Jane Taylor Slemmer (June 15, 1834 -- Jan. 26, 1869) to sister Kate's daughter, niece Helen Haskell (born 1890) who married Charles F. Bowman, Sr.. Quilt given by their three children.
See file for: Correspondence and supporting info., retired photo loan file of Karen Weaver of Denver, CO, and copy of Amy Finkel's one-page appraisal.
Quilt has been cut along right side and top, with the front folded back. Possibly an entire column of 8 blocks was removed. Multiple brown stains and soiling overall. Wear to fabrics with discoloration; binding esp. worn with many areas of exposed batting along bottom and esp. left side. Backing has strong wear.
Object ID
G.91.09
Notes
Sarah Jane Taylor (1834-1869) married Washington Slemmer 25 Nov. 1862 in Rosemont Twp. in Delaware County, PA in Radnor Methodist Church (located on Main Line between Bryn Mawr and Villanova).
Place of Origin
Leacock Twp.
Credit
Given in memory of Helen Haskell Bowman by her children Helen Bowman Jermyn, Marian Bowman Weaver and Charles Franklin Bowman, Jr., Heritage Center Collection
Quilt, pieced cotton top in a Single Irish Chain pattern, hand pieced and quilted. Homespun linen back.
Top has cotton blocks in solid white fabric and brown fabric with a floral print. A lighter brown fabric with a different floral print used for border. There are also brown and white nine-patches in all corners using the brown fabric of the blocks.
Quilting on main body of quilt is in a diamond/waffle pattern, and quilting around border is in a chevron pattern. Blue quilting thread used in the brown fabric of the border and single patches. White fabric quilted with white thread.
Signed and dated in pink cross stitch on top edge of back, "E N / 1786."
Provenance
Elizabeth Bowman Nace 1742 - 24 Feb 1815 passed to granddaughter
Amanda Nace Forney,1803-1851 (daughter of George Nace) to
Eliza Ann Wirt Forney 1836-1922, (wife of son George Nace Forney) to
Netta Amanda Forney Arnold 1866-1950, (daughter) to
Louise Forney Arnold Tanger 1888-1959, (daughter) to
Charles Young Tanger, Sr 1886-1976 (husband, after her death) to
Charles Tanger, Jr. 1914-1991 (son), then sold by widow Nancy Neff Tanger at 1991 or 1992 auction to donor Margaret Lestz
The c. 1783 home of Mathias and Elizabeth Nace is now the Hanover Area Historical Society.
Extensive fading, deterioration and losses on brown fabric of border. The brown dye of fabric patches has migrated onto the white during folding. Moderate soiling overall. Some small brown stains overall. Large moisture stain near top right corner. Small hole in white fabric at right side near center. Blue stains at lower right corner. Minor loss of quilting thread.
Back is extensively stained and soiled, including a large moisture stain.
Object ID
G.00.21.01
Place of Origin
Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of Margaret Lestz, Heritage Center Collection
Baskets quilt, all cotton, has 16 pieced blocks on point alternating with white blocks. Pieced blocks center a basket of a yellow foliate print and a red print of small squares, all on a ground of the same red print. The yellow basket handle is appliqued. The 5"-wide outer border, the back, and the applied binding, are white cotton. Cotton batting.
Hand-stitched quilting designs, pencil lines still visible. The basket blocks have 2 strings of diamonds, a triangle, 3 hearts and a fleur-de-lis. Alternate white blocks have a large flower at center and a 3-leaf motif in each corner. Perimeter open triangles have a diamond grid. Border has running cable.
Provenance
Quilt was made by Elenora Brackbill, donor's aunt, who lived and died in Strasburg area. Donor believes the quilt was made for her own birth (Oct. 16, 1913). Elenora was a single woman and a "practical" nurse who assisted with births, nursing adult patients and cleaning. Elenora first lived in one half of the house on the family farm with her single sister Mary. The family farm was located near the Strasburg Mennonite cemetery just west of Strasburg.
Elenora and Mary then moved to 209 W. Main St. in Strasburg when donor was in her 20s (i.e., 1930s). Elenora died at age 95 and is buried in Strasburg Mennonite cemetery. Donor recalls the family all attending St. Michael's Lutheran Church on E. Main St. They were not Mennonite and did not dress plain. Maker's parents were Amos Brackbill (1840-1913) and Hannah Catherine Bair Brackbill (1849-1922).
Quilt was never used according to donor, however there are minor stains and soiling at various points on front and back, including some acid burn where likely exposed to wood. Pencil marks for quilting very evident.
Object ID
G.01.46.01
Place of Origin
Strasburg
Credit
Gift of Hannah C. Brackbill, Heritage Center Collection
Log Cabin quilt, Straight Furrow variation. Made of pieced cotton prints; over 30 different prints are used in the 30 blocks. The design creates diagonal "stripes" of alternating dark and light colors. Center square of all blocks is the same pink floral print. A 6" outer red print forms border and also binds edges, turned and stitched to back. Back is a dark brown print of circles on flecked ground.
Lancaster County or region.
Quilting is inexpertly hand stitched in white, running in straight lines down the center of each "log".
An "X" in the center square of each block.
Provenance
Unknown provenance. Donors were dealers and acquired this quilt as part of their personal collection.
Quilt is white cotton, top and back, with appliques of potted floral design done in solid red and a green with lesser yellow highlights. Pattern is often called "Pot of Flowers." Center is divided into quadrants with an identical large flowering & fruiting potted plant supporting 4 birds in each, creating a symmetrical design.Ornate pot has handles and the branches have leaves of stylized oak, tulip and cucumber. Border has a pair of wide-spreading flowering & fruiting plants on each side and a bird perched on a smaller sprig at each corner.
Blue is used only on the tail of the four corner birds. Red cherries cluster around branches on each plant; yellow ones at branch tips only. Cherries are cotton-stuffed balls stitched to quilt top only. Chain-stitch embroidered stems done in white thread.
Quilting is done in a fine grid (about 1/2") of blue contrasting thread over entire surface. Binding is red and batting is sparse or nonexistent..
Attributed to Sarah Annie Maisey Marker Smith (22 February 1883 - 22 December 1965). Married twice, she had 7 children & made quilts for many if not all. The family called them "cherry quilts." See Notes.
Provenance
Donor reports quilt was acquired by his wife's parents, Lynn and Lois Langdon, who lived in Idaho and were antiques collectors. At an auction in Oregon state (c.1987-88), the quilt was described as a "Pennsylvania wedding quilt." The Langdons purchased it, thinking it would be appropriate for the Lancaster bed & breakfast "The Patchwork Inn" run by donor and his late wife. (Donor's wife, Joanne, died some time ago. He remarried and they continued the B&B for another 10 years.) The Martins had a collection of over 100 quilts in this B&B. Now retired, donor is finding homes for many of the quilts.
Bio. info on maker Sarah Annie was obtained by Trish Herr from Morgan Anderson (see file). Quiltmaker lived on Easterday Rd, north of Myersville, MD.
Red binding and many stuffed cherries heavily worn. Loss of 2 cherries on one of the large quadrant plants. Minor soiling with some liquid stains, mostly around edges. Reverse has light acid burn at some fold lines. Along one quilt edge are spaced eleven minor holes, probably where tacked up for display in B&B.
Object ID
G.02.47.01
Notes
Applique quilts such as this cherry type "Pot of Flowers" design with its color palette of red and green were being made circa 1850s-1870. Red and green applique quilts were popular in the East, then spread westward where they remained popular during this time, then faded. Two more Pot of Flowers are dated 1902 and 1904, but really had a significant resurgence in the1920s and 1930s. See Connie Nordstroms, "One Pot of Flowers Quilt Pattern -- Blossoming through Centuries", Vol. 23 of the Research Papers of the AQSG, 2002 in file.
Place of Origin
Myersville, Frederick County, Maryland
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Given by the W. Lee Martin family in memory of Joanne M. Martin, Heritage Center Collection
Center Diamond quilt of hand pieced cottons. Double border on both diamond and large square. Top uses 14 different prints, including binding (mostly calicoes, but several stripes and checks) and several solid patches. Colors of red, yellow and pink predominate. Back has pieced cotton strips of two blue floral prints of feed sack material. Cotton batting.
Quilting patterns hand stitched with white thread; diamonds on outside double border and a grid throughout center.
Pieced by Frances Keen Binkley (Mrs. Zephaniah Binkley, 1862-1935), a Mennonite woman living near Leola, Upper Leacock Twp. She designed and pieced a quilt for each of her grandchildren but had her daughter-in-law Vera Binkley (wife of son Edgar) and four granddaughters do the quilting. This quilt was made for donor Dorothy Ann Groff. She believes she was in her teens when the quilting was done, thus the late 1930s).
Some color variation in different print runs of calicos, but original.
Object ID
G.03.05.01
Notes
Quilt was featured in "Quilting Traditions" by Trish Herr, 2000 and again in "Amish Quilts of Lanc. Co." by Trish Herr, 2004. Featured in the Dec. 2007 issue of the magazine McCall's Quilting, "The Art of Vintage Quilts"
Place of Origin
Upper Leacock Twp.
Credit
Given in memory of Frances Keen Binkley by Dorothy A. Gr
Crazy quilt made by Veretta (Ettie) Lucinda Neel. Crazy quilt blocks are on point and made of pieced and appliqued silks, satins and velvets.Decorated with a variety of cotton, silk and chenille embroidery stitches; tied, not quilted. Contains portions of neckties, hatbands, wedding gowns and other family fabrics."V.L.Neel" is embroidered on center block. Finished with a 4"-wide border. Cotton batting. Back is a silk print of silver bells.
Embroidered initials on quilt are SC (or LC), RM, EK, JMP, L(or S)and R. The date 1885 appears twice as well as a music staff, $, pierced heart, five hand-held fans, two painted swallows, owls, boots, hummingbird, stag's head, butterfly, flowers, anchor, etc.
Provenance
Maker to nephew Thomas Ross Neel to daughter and donor, Marianna Neel Akerman.
Maker was an unmarried woman of Scots-Irish descent and Presbyterian. She made this quilt for her hope chest at age 31, but never married. Donor recalls her great-aunt saying she was "unlucky in love" and pointing out the appliqued heart pierced with a downward-pointing arrow as representative of her broken heart. Ettie's sweetheart chose another for his wife (see label from 1990 exhibit). Ettie lived with her parents, Thomas Ross Neel and Verlinda Stubbs Neel (Fulton Twp.), and after their deaths she lived with the family of her sister, Belvidera Neel Carter (Mrs. Samuel Carter) in Christiana.
Maker kept in storage, in unused condition. Two pieces of the same fabric in the center block are shredded and another light colored fabric, used several times, has some staining.
Object ID
G.03.14.01
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of Marianna N. Akerman, Heritage Center Collection
All-white quilt made with unusual arrangement of pieced cotton panels, both machine and hand stitched.
Quilt top and quilt back are essentially identical; all plain-weave cotton except for two 8" wide side panels of ribbed weave and bottom 4.5" wide panel of ribbed basket weave. Centerfield has variously joined panels: at center is 13.5" wide panel flanked by two 9" wide panels and all surrounded by a 9" wide border. Very unusual piecing throughout: overlapping seams, hemmed seams and corners that do not align in conventional manner.
Quilting designs: center panel has 3 feather wreaths on a grid field, and the remaining plain-weave panels each have an undulating feather design on a field of diagonal lines. Cotton batting is deteriorated into clumps from laundering and cotton seeds scattered throughout.
Provenance
Inherited by donor from unknown Mueller family member.
Moderate wear; minor scattered stains, esp. at periphery. Most notable are two tiny blood stains, now faded. Minor separation at several seams, esp. middle panel.
Object ID
G.03.26.01
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Mueller, Jr., Heritage Center Collection
Strip quilt, composed of alternating printed and all-white strips, 6 printed and 5 white. Print is an ombre blue ground with tan medallions edged with a scrolling foliate design and red roses within. Back is three joined pieces of white cotton. Back corner is stamped "KH06".
Quilting is done with an undulating feather on the white strips and a diamond pattern on the printed strips. Back wraps around to front to form the binding.
Stamped on the back of one corner is "KH06." Unknown meaning.
Inscription Type
Stamp
Object Name
Quilt
Material
Cotton
Height (in)
89
Width (in)
90
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2015-06-16
Condition Notes
Generally good with little wear. Most pronounced are about 30 dark stain spots sprinkled across front. Two liquid stains on back as well as a small 1/4" hole.
Object ID
G.03.26.02
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Mueller, Jr., Heritage Center Collection
Redwork Quilt, all-white cotton top and back, with red wool-embroidered pictorial designs inspired by nursery rhymes and literature. Made for donor Paul A. Mueller, Jr. after his birth in Dec. 1930, by his grandmother Anna Stump Mueller.
There are 96 different designs (8 columns of 12), of mostly animals, children and sometimes both. Each design is executed on a 5.25" square of white cotton, pieced vertically into columns. Each column of 12 is separated by a 2.25" wide vertical strip. Border at outside is 4" wide except for a 6.5" wide border at the bottom. The quilt back wraps around to top to create the binding.
Quilting in white thread is a diamond grid on embroidered blocks, a rope pattern on vertical strips and diagonal lines on outside borders.
See NOTES.
230 N. Mary St., Lancaster
Provenance
Anna Mueller made the quilt for her grandson Paul A. Mueller, Jr. at the time of his birth. He donated it in 2003.
There are block letter initials on binding at both bottom corners of quilt top. They appear to be "AM6," likely indicating this was the 6th quilt made by Anna Mueller.
Inscription Type
Inscription
Object Name
Quilt
Material
Fabric
Height (in)
76
Width (in)
67
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2015-07-13
Condition Notes
Good overall condition. Acid burn along one vertical fold line as well as an upper left section of quilt. Faded streak of red stain 5.5" long near embroidery of pig & boy. Quarter-inch cut hole below the "Scratch My Back" design extends through to back. Several light brown stains along upper right column of designs. Red wool in many of the designs is worn, with multiple losses.
Object ID
G.03.26.03
Notes
Redwork quilting of a deep red on white was popular from 1890s thru the 1st quarter of 20th c., but continued to be done throughout the century, eventually having a resurgence of popularity in the 1990s. Usually made for children, the embroidery theme was pictorial, inspired by nursery rhymes and literature. (Elise S. Roberts, The Quilt: A History & Celebration of an Amer. Art Form, p.238)
According to donor, grandmother Anna Catherine Stump (1861-1932) was raised in Marietta where her father, MIchael Stump, was a senior partner in the hardware firm of Stump & Mueller. She married George Phillip Mueller (1852-1900) who came to America at two years of age with his father. He was seminary-trained and became a minister. After her husband's death, Anna S. Mueller lived with her son Paul A. Mueller, Sr. and his family in Lancaster. It was while living in their home that she made the quilt for her grandson, Paul A. Mueller, Jr., born Dec. 20,1930.
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Mueller, Jr., Heritage Center Collection
Nine-Patch Quilt with 4" square blocks set on point. Pieced cotton blocks composed of many multicolored prints and 2 solids (cheddar and tan). Alternate blocks are a pink print.
Nine-patch blocks arranged in 12 rows of 12 each. Top and bottom have floral print border on a dark gray ground; one is 3.5" wide and one 4.5" wide. Same print used as a binding, machine stitched to front, wrapped and hand stitched to back. Back is a cotton print of alternating floral and plain stripes.
Quilting is not carefully executed and uses sometimes white and sometimes tan thread. Parallel lines run through corners in both directions. Pink print blocks have added quilting around edges. Two borders have a repeating chevron design.
Single Patch quilt made of printed cotton diamonds on point on a field of white cotton. There are eleven rows of 26 printed diamonds pieced with white ground patches of large and small squares. The large patches are quilted with a pattern of five overlapping circles and the smaller patches filled with parallel lines. The printed patches are also quilted with parallel lines, but in the opposite direction.
Quilt top and white cotton back are joined together at edges, with a narrow (1/2 - 5/8 inch wide) border of a blue-green print machine-stitched to front side only - not a true binding. This was of course reworked at a later time.
Inscriptions: Cross-stitched in red, at back corner is "SM / 7 / 1831." Another corner has "LBS" in pen and ink, indicating ownership by Paul A. Mueller, Jr.'s maternal grandfather, Lewis Buch Sprecher (April 22, 1876 -- April 27, 1975).
Provenance
Donor believes quilt descended through Lewis B. Sprecher's mother's side of the family.
Generally good; reworked border with machine stitching at edge, with at least 3 areas of open and fraying seams. Some areas covered with a light brown staining or soiling. Dark reddish brown stains at 3rd & 4th square of center row. Several minor scattered stains. Two of the 4 printed diamonds having a turkey red ground and heart flowers show significant deterioration; one has a long split and the other overall deterioration with holes and splitting.
Object ID
G.03.26.05
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Mueller, Jr., Heritage Center Collection
Lone Star quilt of cotton prints. Large star of hand pieced diamonds (2" x 4") using 5 prints of pink, blue, red, green and yellow. Set on a ground of a blue print with white & dark blue flecks.
Extensive and elaborate hand quilting includes an undulating corded feather vine at all four sides, a small feather wreath in each corner and large feather wreaths with diamond grid centers fill in around star. Diagonal lines through each diamond of star.
Back is pieced w/ 2 blue calicoes, a floral and a foliate design over stripes.The pink calico binding,1/2" wide, is a print over narrow stripe background. Cotton batting.
Donor claimed maker was Amanda Metzger Rider (21 Jan 1860 - 21 Dec 1961) of Londonderry Twp., Dauphin County, a Mennonite woman who married John Brinser Rider (1885-1921), a farmer and butcher. Donor has since conceded this is doubtful. See Notes
Unknown -- Doubtful Amanda Metzger Rider was maker
Provenance
Quilt passed from Amanda M. Rider to daughter Fannie Metzger Rider Noll (1888-1973) to her daughter Ethel Rider Noll Albright (b.1910 - still living at St. John's Home in Columbia in 2003) to her daughter, donor Phyllis Ann Albright Hertz (1935- ).
Small cabinet photo of Amanda included with donation, depicts her as a young woman before she joined the Mennonite Church and dressed plain. Photo by Le Rue Lemer of Harrisburg. The Miller family genealogy owned by donor notes Amanda died of a stroke and was buried in Geyers Church Cemetery.
Generally very good but with several brown stains: a cluster of 3 about 15-18" from corner border and binding, one very dark. Another light brown stain in same border near opposite corner. One-inch-long dark liquid stain in one green diamond of inner circl. Blue background print has a regular pattern of light areas caused by original print run. Back has some small dark liquid stains and darkening along fold lines.
Object ID
G.03.32.01
Notes
Cousin of donor, Arlene Huss (Lititz, 717 569 3482) was surprised to see her grandmother's quilt during a quilt presentation 9 Nov 2017. Arlene confided later that her mother, Emma Rider Huss, told her that her mother, Amanda Metzger Rider, only made conforters with scraps of material. She did NOT make fancy quilt like this Lone Star. Arlene has another quilt that used the same fabrics as the Lone Star, but it was given by Amands to daughter Emma but not made by her. This information puts the identity of the maker in serious doubt, with the conclusion that the maker is unknown. She later called her cousin Phyllis, the donor, who conceded she was not certain Amanda made the Lone Star.
Amish Bars pattern Quilt, rectangular, pieced in gray synthetic fabric and black cotton. Back is pieced green cotton and is brought forward to create a 1/4" binding, which is secured with hand stitching. Quilting stitches in dark thread, mostly diagonal. No batting is evident.
January 26 & 1916 quilted into two different bars, diagonally opposite each other.
Due to the strong use of black, it indicates an origin outside of Lancaster County, most probably Ohio. Good comparison piece to Lancaster County Bars quilts
Provenance: Brockman purchased quilt from Kate Kopp of American Hurrah c.1994 in NYC.
Significant number of holes and losses, especially near binding. Some fading.
