Nine-block floral applique quilt, white cotton front and back. Front is pieced with 9 large blocks 24" square, each having the same large appliqued branching flowers. Surrounding blocks is an outside border of white, 7" wide. Narrow binding has front wrapped around to back. No apparent batting.
Floral appliques have a large red bloom centered on a 3-branch flower with green leaves and red buds terminating each branch. Central bloom has a cutwork center roughly conforming to shape of bloom with additional embellishment. Blooms are solid red cotton; stems and leaves are a green cotton print having tiny yellow dots on a faint grid pattern.
Densely handquilted in white thread. Intricacy & density make it difficult to identify motifs, but they appear to be circles, large sunflowers and other variously sized flowers, floral vining with feathery leaves lining only one side of vine, filfots, scalloping, etc.
Donor's written note states maker was Elizabeth Kraybill (1812-1894). See Notes
Provenance
Passed from mother to daughter as follows:
Elizabeth Kraybill Nissley to
Katherine Nissley (Engle) to
Martha Engle (Groff) to
(Frances) Ruth Groff (Fox) to
Donor Jean Fox (White).
Donor states quilt was examined by Heritage Center staff many years ago and was told the quilt was made before 1850 as indicated by the dating of the green fabric.
Very good condition overall with only several light stains on front and back.
Object ID
G.08.02.01
Notes
Elizabeth Kraybill married Jacob Kraybill Nissley (1808-1862) and operated a farm just NW of Mt. Joy Boro. They are buried in Kraybill Mennonite Cemetery.
See descent chart in file.
Place of Origin
Mount Joy Twp.
Role
Quiltmaker
Credit
Gift of Jean White in Memory of Martha Engle Groff, Heri
Spherical pincushion of small pieced woolen patches of solid brown, blue, red and black. Large black triangles alternate with blocks of a 4-patch diamond on a red square. Four-patch is blue and light brown. Decorated with off-white silk ribbon 1/4' wide, encircling the ball several times. A tassel of 0.5" wide ribbon at one side. Soft cotton stuffing.
Old paper note written in small script is stitched to pincushion. It reads: "Presented to / Mary N Hostetter / by her / Grandmother / Nissley in 1872".
Attributed to Elizabeth Kraybill Nissley (1812-1894).
Provenance
Research: Mary N. Hostetter (6 Oct 1864 - 20 Mar 1932) married Joseph H. Habecker and lived in Mount Joy area. Parents were Jonas E. Hostetter and Barbara Nissley of Mt. Joy area. Nissley grandparents were Elizabeth Kraybill Nissley (1812-1894) and Jacob Kraybill Nissley.
Grandmother Elizabeth Kraybill Nissley gave the pincushion to Mary in 1872 when she was 8 yrs. old and grandmother was 60.
Round, flat pincushion with beadwork top and bottom, done on a black felt ground. One side has a 6-petal green flower centered within 2 concentric bands, 1 red and 1 blue, with white edging. Opposite side has a centered 4-petal pink & green flower with repeating conforming lines within two bands, 1 red and 1 blue, with white edging. Pink silk, 0.5" wide, encircles outer sides of pincushion. Stuffed with white wool.
