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
