Album Quilt

Currently not on view

Album Quilt

1853

Possibly made by the members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekah

Album quilts were very popular in the mid-nineteenth century, valued as expressions of affection and friendship. In this example, forty-eight blocks are inscribed with the names and initials of the family and friends of Richard H. Mosher. The center block is appliquéd with three intersecting links, representing friendship, love, and truth, symbols of the fraternal Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Some of the quilt blocks also contain symbolic references to this fellowship, while others may be based on popular prints of the period, including the little girl Topsy from Uncle Tom's Cabin published in 1852, kittens playing with balls of yarn, a log cabin, and soldiers on horseback.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Album Quilt

Date:

1853

Artist:

Possibly made by the members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekah

Medium:

Printed and solid cotton plain weave with appliqué of printed, solid, and glazed cotton plain weave, wool twill, silk velvet, cotton velveteen, silk satin, and plain weave silk; wool, silk, and cotton embroidery in chain, buttonhole, stem, cross, satin, and herringbone stitches; glass beads; ink; quilted with cotton thread

Dimensions:

7 feet 3 inches × 7 feet 3 inches (221 × 221 cm)

Classification:

Textiles

Credit Line:

125th Anniversary Acquisition. Gift of Elizabeth Albert, 2001

Accession Number:

2001-204-1

Geography:

Made in Stanford, New York, United States, North and Central America

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Currently not on view