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Mass.Quilt Documentation #2065.
Bidwell accession # 203039 |
One of two pieced
quilts in the collection, this one, believed to have been made in the
second quarter of the 19th century, has striking red feathered stars on a
white background. The layout is side by side square blocks, pieced by hand
from plain woven cotton. The overall dimension is 72.5" x 90"; the quilt
is backed using two pieces of plain white cotton and has a thin cotton
batting and a bias applied binding that is believed to have been added at
a later date. |
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In very good condition, but
with some fading, it bears a stamped inscription on the reverse "Amos. S.
Hudson". It is echo quilted by hand at 8 stitches to the inch with
additional floral motifs. |
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According to the
'Quilt Encyclopedia Illustrated', Carter Houck published 1991, "Among the
few block patterns that came from England to America were simple stars
based on the division of a square into none or sixteen equal squares.
These still exist in American patterns as the Variable and the Sawtooth
stars." The feathered star is a test of piecing skill; this one is based
on the Sawtooth Star design, a sixteen-patch division of the four-patch
category. The distinguishing characteristic is the fringe of small
'feathers' around each point that require great skill to piece. |
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