Lancaster Amish quilt, very non-traditional Bars pattern, made circa 1880. The large scale of the pattern and the diagonally divided corner blocks do not fit within the usual parameters of Amish quiltmaking. It is one of the earliest quilts in this collection.
Top: Plain- and twill-weave wool. Five 10-inch-wide bars in centerfield, 3 of two shades of brown and 2 of turquoise. No inner border except for top and bottom, and these are of different widths. Wide outer border with corner blocks each divided diagonally into two triangles.
Binding: 1" wide light tan fabric, machine-sewn to back and front.
Quilting: Outer border has unusual fan pattern, although not unique (see P02.51.56 and 66). Corner blocks have concentric squares. Inner border & center field is cross-hatched. Two outer brown bars re-quilted (see quilt back).
LABEL: "Although this quilt is a Bars pattern, one of the more common patterns used by Lancaster County Amish makers, it has some unusual features. The diagonally divided corner blocks and fan quilting designs in the outer borders are atypical. Also inner borders appear only on the top and bottom sides and are not equal in width. The use of heavy twill-and plain-weave dark wool fabrics and a simple pattern suggest an early date."
Provenance
Purchased from Stella Rubin of Potomac, MD. Invoice of 5-23-89 is for $12,500.
Extensive reconstruction: Brown fabric of the two outer strips in center and matching fabric of triangles in two bottom corner blocks are all replaced/overlaid by hand piecing, and re-quilted (see back). Original brown fabric in center bar only. Small gray strip applied to checked fabric of back. Same gray fabric used in a section of original binding is a replacement. Some original fabrics show wear & stains; quite fragile. Additional detail in quilt report by Linnea Davis of 1-11-90, in file. Additional condition report/sketch done by volunteer Aug. 2010.
