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1800 - 1820 Brown-Francis Family's Patriotic Quilt

National Museum of American History

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Object Details

quilter
unknown
Description
This early-nineteenth-century patriotic quilt was owned by members of the Brown-Frances family of Canterbury, Connecticut, before being donated to the Museum in 1947. The donor's grandmother had acquired possession of it along with other household furnishings that were in the eighteenth-century family homestead.
The focus of the quilt, the large center block, is an adaptation of the Great Seal of the United States. An appliquéd eagle holding an arrow in one claw and a leafy sprig in the other dominates the block A shield with fifteen stars that indicate the number of states from June 1, 1792 until June 1, 1796 is behind the eagle. Appliquéd floral and bird motifs complete the block. This center block is set in a field of 4¾-inch blocks alternately plain and pieced in a nine-patch variation. The fabrics include thirty-eight roller-printed, plain colored and white cottons. It is quilted in parallel diagonal lines ¾-inch apart, 7 or 8 stitches per inch. From the late-eighteenth century the American eagle motif has signified patriotism and sacrifice. This quilt by an unknown Canturbury, Connecticut, quilt maker displays a unique rendition of that powerful symbol.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. Normal L. Kilpatrick
1800-1820
1795-1820
ID Number
TE.T13505
accession number
168993
catalog number
T13505
Object Name
quilt
Object Type
quilts
Physical Description
fabric, cotton (overall material)
thread, linen, cotton (overall material)
filling, cotton (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 98 in x 95 in; 248 cm x 240 cm
See more items in
Cultural and Community Life: Textiles
Government, Politics, and Reform
Quilts
Textiles
National Museum of American History
subject
Patriotic
Patriotism and Patriotic Symbols
Quilting
Record ID
nmah_556430
Usage of Metadata (Object Detail Text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a3-c14d-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

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