Unfinished hexagonal pieced quilt top. 7 large hexagons (15.5-inch sides) with star-shaped patterns of small 1.25-inch-sided hexagons, 12 per side. One large hexagon is loose/ not yet sewn into the larger piece. Small hexagons were stitched around heavy paper forms cut from advertisements/ "Lancaster" is printed on one.All outer-edge small hexagons still have the paper forms in them. Central section shows was. Fascinating variety of cotton fabrics, plain & prints; shirtings. Dating from different periods, maybe late 1800's to late 1920's.
Year Range From
1890
Year Range To
1920
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 4
Storage Cabinet
Unit 19
Storage Shelf
Shelf 4
Storage Container
Box 0047
Object Name
Quilt
Length (cm)
193.04
Length (ft)
6.3333333333
Length (in)
76
Width (cm)
172.72
Width (ft)
5.6666666667
Width (in)
68
Dimension Details
These measurements are not precise.
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2023-11-27
Condition Notes
Unfinished; cardboard/heavy paper patterns are still in outer edge hexagons.
Unfinished pieces 8-pointed star quilt top. Variety of brightly-colored cotton prints form 8-pointed stars with white muslin square centers. Machine-peiced, 5 blocks across and 7 blocks along lenght. Each star block is roughly 8 x 8 inches. A 2.5-inch border of a pink prints is sewn as the outer edge.
Lancaster Amish quilt is a Center Square pattern, c. 1920. Notable because of added corner blocks. Although Center Square pattern is considered early, the usd of turquoise, the added corner blocks and the simpler and less fluid quilting patterns suggest a later date.
Top: Plain- and twill-weave wool. Turquoise inner border makes a striking tonal statement, making the quilt much brighter than the previous three.
Back: Black-and-white plain-weave cotton chambray (a pain-weave cotton having warp and weft threads of different colors, in this case, black and white). Chambray is frequently used as backing for Amish quilts.
Quilting: Center if filled with waffle pattern. Inner border has cable with a 7-petal flower at each corner, a later and less common inner border pattern. Outer border has basket quilting (usually associated with the 1920s and 30s). These baskets appear to be fruit-filled with coiled handles, creating a more interesting pattern than mere basket outlines. Corners have fine wreath quilting.
Near Peach Bottom, southern end of Lancaster County
Provenance
Esprit purchased from the Holsteins for $10,000 on 6-12-80. Robert Bishop writes that the quilt came from a farm near Peach Bottom in southern Lancaster County (Amish: The Art of the Quilt).
Lancaster Amish quilt, Diamond in the Square pattern, circa 1925.
Top: plain- and twill-weave wools. Maroon center diamond and turquoise triangles. Inner border of the same maroon. Outer border of gray-blue. Red binding is 1 1/2" wide. (The turquoise wool dates from the 1920s or later.)
Back: plain-weave cotton with a gray-and-white twill-print. Two different fabrics joined; a narrow strip of darker print was used along one edge. This type of fabric is commonly used on backs.
Quilting: Diamond has a large feather wreath with large 8-point star centered within with 8 additional small stars surrounding star. Outside corners have a grape-and-leaf design and outer edges are lined with a row of scallops. Turquoise triangles of square have a rose and tulip branch pattern (normally seen on later quilts). Inner border has "pumpkin seed" flowers within a diamond pattern. Outer border has scrolling feather motif with a pair of 8-point stars centered at two sides only. A row of scallops lines inner edge.
Provenance
Esprit purchased from Phyllis Haders for $9,000 in May of 1984.
See file for Esprit condition report for details: small moth holes and worn areas. Additional holes/worn areas noted. Also light stains scattered over surface. Back has some large areas of light brown stain.
Lancaster Amish quilt, Diamond in the Square pattern, circa 1925.
Top: all twill-weave wools. Red diamond is on a square of dark blue. Both diamond and square have a narrow border (3 3/4" wide) of the same purple. Dark blue binding is 1 1/4" wide.
Back: Black sateen-weave cotton, four pieced panels.
Batting: Many sections of wool batt laid side by side, causing visual and textural changes to the front fabrics.
Quilting: Diamond has large feather wreath with an 8-pointed star centered within and double-stitched foliate motif in outside corners. Triangles of center square have branching tulip-and-rose design. Both inner borders have the same triple-stitched cable motif and 10-petal flowers in corners. Outer border has curving feather design with additional feather strips filling in where possible. A row of scallops are on inner edge, next to inner border.
Provenance
Esprit purchased from Bettie Mintz of Bethesda, MD in Feb. 1984 for $9,500.
Issued as U.S. postage stamp, August 9, 2001. (Samples in Esprit file). Featured on cover of Esprit book "Amish: The Art of the Quilt."
See file for Esprit condition report for details: small moth holes and worn areas. Additional holes/worn areas noted. Also light stains scattered over surface. Back has some large areas of light brown stain.
Lancaster Amish quilt, Diamond in the Square pattern, c. 1925. This classic wool quilt is pieced from a pleasing selection of intense colors that might have been used earlier in the century, but the rose motif quilting suggests a date of mid-1920s or later.
Top: Plain-and twill-weave wool. Diamond of light red (24" square) has narrow purple border and outside the turquoise center square is another purple border. Wide outer border of deep red. Binding of gray-blue is 1 1/4" wide. It has machine stitching with white thread on front.
Back: Printed plain-weave cotton is maroon with tiny white motifs.
Quilting: Within a large feather wreath is a large center 8-pointed star surrounded by 8 smaller stars. Corners outside wreath have floral quilting. Triangles of square have a branching tulip and rose motif. Both inner borders have a grapevine pattern not common until the late 1920s and 1930s. Outer border has usual feather quilting that is less dense than usual, so additional floral device helps to fill in space: two small 9-petal flowers are stitched between feather ends at the center of each side of outer border.
Provenance
Esprit purchased from Edward Brown of San Francisco for $5,200 on April 7, 1981.
See file for Esprit condition report. A 1/2-inch patched hole on wide red border is near center area. Many small, scattered stains and soil are especially visible in turquoise triangle and red outer border. Scattered small holes on front and back of binding. Prominent dark liquid stain on backing.
Lancaster Amish quilt, Diamond in the Square pattern, c. 1925
Top: plain-weave wools. Center diamond of purple is on a square of red triangles. The inner border repeats the same purple with corners of the same red. The outer border is a muted medium blue with corners of the same red. The binding is very dark green.
Back: blue-and-white plain-weave cotton chambray.
Quilting: Diamond has a large feather wreath encircling a multiple-line 6-point star within and unusual 3-branching flower with 6-petal blooms outside in each corner. Triangles of center square have branching rose and tulip motif. Inner border has "pumpkin seed" flowers within a diamond pattern. Corners have a ring of four tulip-like flowers. The four sides of the outer border each have four S-scrolled feathers with a C-scroll at each end. Corners have a well-executed compote of fruit.
Former label: "Wool absorbs dyes in an especially concentrated way, providing Lancaster Amish women with their particular lush palette. They characteristically balanced large, starkly geometric designs with elaborate, curvilinear quilting designs. While all of the quilting designs on this fine Diamond are from the standard repertoire, they have been selected from the fanciest end of the spectrum. Notice, especially, the floral urns in the large red squares."
Provenance
Esprit purchased from Kiracofe and Kile of San Francisco for $6,000 on June 9, 1981.
See existing Esprit condition report for numerous clusters of small moth holes and some soil. Most significant moth holes are in blue outer border, many of them about 1/8 inch dia. In addition are two 1" to 1.5" smears of light liquid soil near center of diamond.
Lancaster Amish quilt, Diamond in the Square pattern, c. 1925.
Top: plain-weave wools except for twill wool binding. Center diamond is dark blue henrietta cloth, once used in the maker's dress.** Center square is gray; inner corner is salmon with light red corner blocks; outer border is purple(?) with blue corners. The 1-1/4-inch binding is heavy blue twill.
Back: green twill-weave cotton flannel.
Quilting: Large feather wreath in diamond with waffle interior and unusual double-stitched floral motif in corners. The triangles of the inner square have a branching rose-and-tulip motif with double-stitched stems; also included are two small poorly spaced stars filling in a few corners, flanking two opposing points of the center diamond (4 total). Inner border has pumpkin seed flowers surrounded by a diamond pattern. Corner blocks have a 5-petal flower. Outer border has scrolling feather pattern with a small flower added in each corner.
String tag, now removed, states quilt was frozen 05/12/92.
**Esprit book (Amish: Art of the Quilt) quilt caption claims that the maker's daughter recalled the fabric of the center diamond as "the dark blue from my mother's dress." (No maker's name, however) The label continues: "The Lancaster Amish use the term "henrietta" to describe a variety of fabrics, but it usually refers to the fine wools they favor for their quilts. Lancaster quilts are most often square and symmetrically arranged, almost always ranging from 72 to 88 inches square."
Provenance
Esprit purchased from the Holsteins for $8,500 on June 12, 1986.
Existing Esprit condition report details various stains, fading, very fragile fraying in center blue, etc. Highly significant, visible problems such as (1)shredded, fraying areas of blue center (2) orange stains of large corner block and (3) large area of fading within outer border, lighter stains in dark areas.
Lancaster Amish quilt, Diamond in the Square pattern, circa 1925, embroidered initials "IL." Lively combination of the typical Amish palette.
Top: plain- and twill-weave wool. Blue-green diamond with dark red inner border has purple corner blocks. Triangles of square are nearly olive green. Inner border, 4" wide, is wine red with purple corner blocks. Outer border is blue-green with wine red corners. Binding is dark purple, 1 1/2" wide.
Back: blue plain-weave cotton. Initialed "IL" in pink cotton cross stitch in corner, similar to the following quilt.
Quilting: Diamond has a large feather wreath filled with a large, multilined 8-point star. Outside corners have "pumpkin seed" designs. Border of diamond has undulating grape and leaf motif. Triangles of center square have the branching rose and tulip motif and the inner border repeats the grape and leaf motif of the previous inner border. Outer border is filled with scrolling feather design extending through corner blocks.
Provenance
Esprit purchased from Edward Brown of San Francisco on July 9, 1881 for $5,300.
See existing Esprit condition report for one 1/4" tear near binding and stains/soil. Additional dark brown stains noted near above hole in outer border, as well as tiny hole alongside above hole. Long tide lines of light brown liquid stains throughout one side of back indicate liquid.
Amish quilt, Diamond in the Square, quilted in corner by machine is "JTP" over "1921." Unusual characteristics indicate Mifflin Co. Amish origin or influence (overall proportions, quilting patterns, narrow binding, two inner borders, rounded corners and other construction details). However, Diamond in the Square pattern is usually associated with Lancater County.
Top is plain-weave wool. Central blue diamond on a green square. Unusual feature is two inner borders of equal width (5 1/4"), first is reddish-brown with green corners and the next is blue with green corners. (Equal width inner borders is another characteristic of Mifflin Co.) Outer border (9 1/2" wide) is of reddish-brown with green corners.
Back is blue plain-weave cotton chambray. Blue binding is only 3/4" wide (standard Lanc. Co. width is 1 1/2" - 2").
Quilting: large feather wreath in diamond, along with diapering and some scalloping. Green square (corners) has half wreaths infilled with clamshell and diaper patterns. First inner border has clamshell, second inner border has unusual 8-scroll motif and outer border has meandering feather infilled with clamshell (including corners). Green corner blocks of both inner borders have a single pinwheel.
Provenance
Esprit purchased from America Hurrah in July 1985 for $4,500.
See condition report of 7/17/13 by intern Emily Jones. Dark liquid stains, esp. in one outer border and corner block with initials/date. Bleeding likely caused by an attempt to clean corner block stain. Center diamond has a couple lighter stain/soil areas. One outer border has small areas of light staining/bleaching. Binding is faded, soiled with wear.
Lancaster Amish quilt, Diamond in the Square, Nine-Patch and Sawtooth variation. Very unusual variation, this quilt was made by Katie Stoltzfus, circa 1927 (per Plate 27 of "Amish: The Art of the Quilt").
Top of wools; plain-weaves except for crepe wool inner border and twill-weave gray of outer border & inner triangles of square. The Diamond's unusual piecing has 9-Patch and Sawtooth patterns, all within a black 2"-wide border. Triangles of square are gray twill, inner border is near-orange crepe and outer border is gray twill with corner blocks of dark blue. Binding is red, one inch wide.
Back is a black-and-white cotton chambray, a common choice for backing but not for clothing due to having a slight pattern.
Quilting: loosely quilted throughout outer border with large baskets interspersed with stars and floral motifs. Cable pattern in inner border and lattice pattern on inner triangles (both uncommon for Lancaster Co. Amish).
Soiling evident, esp. in light colors. White paint on edge of binding. Several small drips of paint or other matter, esp. in outer border. Small hole (1/8") near corner of inner border. Large liquid stain on inner border and smaller ones within diamond and elsewhere. Seam separation within square (tiny pieced corner).
Lancaster Amish quilt, Sunshine & Shadow pattern, circa 1927, made by Arie Esh for son Daniel's 1928 marriage. Initialed "DE" with red cross stitch at back corner for son Daniel. Common Amish practice was to provide new quilts for each child to take to their new homes upon marriage. Several may be provided for each child provided there were enough able quilters and time.
Top: Made of wools; plain- and twill-weave and crepe. Center field of pieced 2" squares in an arrangement that forms a diamond in a color sequence of purples and blues, red and black, with contrasting rows of bright green and pink. Inner border of royal blue with tan corners. Outer border of red with tan corners. Binding is emerald green, machine sewn to back, turned, and machine sewn to front with black thread.
Back: Green plain-weave cotton flannel, machine-joined in three widths.
Quilting: Cross hatch in centerfield, quilted across the diagonal of squares. Inner border has double-outline grapevine motif with very curving stem and grapeleaf in corner blocks. Outer borders have 5 baskets alternating with a 6-pointed star and scalloping along inner edge. Corner squares have a floral motif similar to P02.51.32. All motifs are double-outlined.
Note: Staff member Erika Belen reported that on 6/20/06, Reuben Esh inquired about this quilt. He recognized it as having been made by his grandmother and is sad that it left the family. Reuben operated the chicken stand at Central Market (across from Clyde S. Weaver's). See Fisher Book #2960 Amos Esh who married Arie Fisher and had son Daniel Esh #2969 who had a son Reuben #2978. A discrepancy is that the Fisher book records Nov. 16, 1933 as the marriage date for Daniel S. Esh and Susie Fisher.
Provenance
Esprit worksheet records "Bought from Barbara Janos" with no price or date, but likely in the 1980s.
Very good condition (see 1990 conservation report by Linnea Davis). Some whitish dots in centerfield and one in a corner block of outer border. Backing has one faint red-brown stain about 3/4" long. See also condition report by Miller & Zercher, 8-1-2013.
Lancaster Amish Bars quilt, c. 1920. Superb example of a simple design having no corner blocks or inner borders, and fine quilting.
Top is plain-weave wools. The four orange strips are 6 1/2"" wide. The three blue strips are 6" wide.
Quilting: Fine, dense waffle quilting throughout; bordering the outside edge of field is scalloping. Red outside border has gracefully scrolling feather quilting that includes a well-placed pineapple in the middle of the two long sides.
Pale blue one-inch binding.
Backing: One corner of the gray-and-blue cotton is pieced with a darker blue.
Provenance
Unknown. Purchased before 1984 since it was hanging in Esprit headquarters in Customer Service on 3rd floor as of June 1984.
One of six Esprit quilts chosen as a National Treasure by the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2007. This was part of their "Picturing America" project whose aim was to tell the story of America through its art.
Binding is faded/worn; small tears beginning to form.
Object ID
P.02.51.38
Notes
One of six Esprit quilts chosen as a National Treasure by the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2007. This was part of their "Picturing America" project whose aim was to tell the story of America through its art.
Top: twill-weave and crepe wool. Five brown bars alternate with five green bars, all 4 1/2" in width. Inner border of faded purple twill is 3 3/4" wide. Outer border of dark green is 12" wide. Faded blue binding is 1" wide.
Back: blue plain-weave cotton.
Quilting: waffle quilted throughout bars; inner border has "pumpkin seed" floral motif within a diamond pattern and an 8-pointed star at each corner; outer border has gracefully scrolling feather motif.
Cross stitched in red cotton along edge of reverse side is "JSB / 1925", for maker or recipient.
Provenance
Unknown. Used in Conference Room on 1st floor of Esprit bldg.
Colors faded, esp. blue binding. Ragged hole exposing batting approx. 1/4" in size is located near one corner (7" in from one edge & 4 1/2" in from other edge). Another nearby hole is much smaller, and yet another nearby area shows loss. Probably insect damage.
Object ID
P.02.51.39
Notes
One of six Esprit quilts chosen as a National Treasure by the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2007. This was part of their "Picturing America" project whose aim was to tell the story of America through its art.
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."
Lancaster Amish Bars quilt, circa 1920. Deep colors such as these are usually found in early quilts.
Top: Twill-weave wools. Seven-inch wide bars of blue and green with red inner border and blue outer border with green blocks.
Back: Black & white and blue & white chambray, machine joined in four widths. Just one narrow strip is in blue.
Quilting: Although the quilting of fine even stitches is excellent, the patterns are hard to see in dark colors. Outer border has baskets containing a tulip and tiny paired loops a the side of each basket handle. Baskets alternate with 6-point stars. A row of scallops along inner edge. The inside border has a double cable with 6-point star in corners. Centerfield is waffle.
Binding is red, machine sewn to the back, turned and machine sewn to front with black cotton thread.
North of White Horse, Lancaster County (Esprit Book, plate 43)
Provenance
Purchased by Esprit from the Holsteins for $10,000 on 6/12/1986.
Some fading of blue fabric. Some small holes and one tear, now darned, at back of binding in one corner caused by a heavy nylon strap sleeve, removed by conservator Linnea Davis. Other hole repairs made by Davis in binding (see file).
Lancaster Amish Bars quilt, circa 1925. This Bars pattern has inner and outer corner blocks with a pleasing progression of red fabric from the outer corner to the central part of the quilt.
Top: Twill- weave wools. Six-inch-wide bars of red and beige, inner border of Prussian blue with red corners and outer border of beige with red corners. Binding is Prussian blue, machine sewn to the front, turned and whip-stitched to the back with black thread.
Back: Brown & tan stripe-printed plain-weave cotton. Machine joined in three widths of 24" each.
Quilting: Cross-hatched centerfield across the diagonal. Inner border has pumpkin seeds alternating with paired triangle point lines. Corner squares have a seven "seed" rosette. Outer border has S-scroll feathers with feather segments at each end of border. Corner squares have a single-feather circle surrounding a large eight "seed" rosette. Scallops at inner edge. Double line quilting defines the seam join of the borders to the square.
Provenance
Esprit purchased from Rhea Goodman, Quilt Gallery, Inc. Hung in the Accounting office at Esprit in 1984.
Published in Holsteins' "The Pieced Quilt", 1973, p. 96, Plate 32.
Published in Holsteins' "The Pieced Quilt", 1973, p. 96, Plate 32.
Length (in)
82
Width (in)
74
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2014-10-21
Condition Notes
Minor large stains on backing in center, short tear at corner caused by 2" velcro, now removed. Tiny areas of red and blue bleeding at front. Old moth damage. Detailed condition by Linnea Davis, 1990
Lancaster Amish quilt, Bars pattern, circa 1920. Herr: "This quilt, although quite different in color, is remarkably similar in pattern layout, dimensions, and quilting to the previous quilt (plate 44). The liberal use of strong red against teal, accented with a narrow pink border, adds excitement."
Top: Plain-weave wool. Wine and turquoise thoughout except for soft rose inner border.
Quilting: Outside border has unusual segmented feather pattern and the stand-alone feather wreath in each corner block. Center has waffle quilting. Inner border has pumpkin seed flowers within a geometric diamond pattern. (Waffle and pumpkin seed flower quilting is tighter than plate #44.)
Provenance
Esprit purchased from America Hurrah in October of 1982 for $5,500.
Lancaster Amish quilt, Bars pattern, c. 1925. Square quilt with pieced inner border
Top: plain-weave wool. Four red bars alternate with five teal-blue bars (all 5" wide), surrounded by a narrow border of pieced green diamonds and salmon triangles with teal-blue corner blocks. Outer border is dark red with teal-blue corners. The teal binding is 1 1/4" wide, machine sewn to front, turned and whip-stitched to back.
Back: brown-and-white printed-check, plain-weave cotton. Machine joined in 3 widths.
Quilting: Done in tiny stitches with black thread. Waffle quilting throughout bars; inner border has a 4-petal "pumpkin seed" flower within each green diamond and a double-outlined 7-petal rosette in corner blocks. Outer border has scrolling feather quilting.
Bird-in-Hand area, Lancaster County (See file)
Additional holes & stains noted: Multiple tiny moth holes and several additional stains (added to report photo). Backing has some dark stains and a 1-inch-long split near one corner.
Provenance
Purchased by Esprit from the Holsteins on 6/12/86 for $10,500. Reported that the Amish family from whom this was purchased had never seen another Bars quilt with the pieced diamond inner border. (Esprit book, Plate 47)
One of six Esprit quilts chosen as a National Treasure by the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2007. This was part of their "Picturing America" project whose aim was to tell the story of America through its art.
One outer turquoise bar has two faint tan stains. Inner border has puckered seam joins. One side of outer border has four holes; one is darned with red thread. Opposite end has a clean-cut hole. Back has some rust stains with adjacent unknown stains. Very little nap remains on flannel.
Lancaster Amish quilt, Bars pattern, c. 1925. Bold, striking design of only two strong colors. (Two other similar quilts are known: One is p. 60, McCauley's Decorative Arts of the Amish and another is in private collection).
Top: plain-weave wools. Seven bars are 4 3/4" wide, four of blue alternate with three of red. A surrounding narrow inner border, 3 1/4" wide, has pieced blue diamonds and red triangles. Outer border of blue, 12" wide, has red corner blocks. Red binding is 1 1/4" wide, machine sewn to front, turned and whip-stitched to back with black thread.
Back: sateen-weave cotton is royal purple. Three machine joined widths.
Quilting: Waffle pattern throughout bars; diamonds of inner border have "pumpkin seed" flowers with "leaning" petals, including larger flowers in the corner blocks. Outer border has undulating 5-petal floral vine. Similar quilting patterns as P02.51.46 except for feather outer border.
Generally very good condition with strong color. Most significant are some very small holes at one end of center red bar and two small holes in the adjacent blue bar. Corner of outer border has two black stains at quilted leaf.
