Sharecropper’s Masterpiece

Object Details

Created by

Avis Collins Robinson, American, born 1954

Mensie Lee Pettway, American, born 1939

Andrea Pettway Williams, American, born 1973

Subject of

The Quilts of Gee's Bend, American, founded 1845

Description

This modified strip quilt with nine blocks was pieced by Avis Collins Robinson in the style of Gee's Bend, Alabama, quilts. It was quilted by Mensie Lee Pettway and Andrea Pettway Williams. The quilt top is comprised of nine (9) blocks in rows and columns of three. Each block is formed from asymmetrical strips of fabric, with the blocks sewn together so that the strips are oriented in alternating vertical and horizontal directions. The strips are made from pieces of corduroy and velvet in shades of red, pink, purple, and white. There is a border along the left facing side in dark purple velvet and a wider border along the right facing side in red corduroy. The quilt is backed with a solid red cotton or poly-cotton plain weave fabric. Binding on the top on bottom edges is made from chartreuse velvet, the left facing binding from light pink corduroy and the right facing binding from bright purple corduroy. The top, batting, and backing are joined with quilting stitches in white thread sewn in slightly undulating horizontal lines. A wide strip of plain muslin is sewn along the top edge of the reverse for hanging.

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Avis, Eugene, Aaron and Lowell Robinson, in memory of Edward and Annie R. Collins

2008

Object number

2015.277

Restrictions & Rights

© Avis Collins Robinson

Type

quilts

Medium

corduroy, velvet, batting, and cotton

Dimensions

H x W x D: 87 3/8 × 86 × 5/8 in. (221.9 × 218.4 × 1.6 cm)

Place made

Arlington, Virginia, United States, North and Central America

Gee's Bend, Boykin, Wilcox County, Alabama, United States, North and Central America

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design

Textiles-Quilts

Title

Quilt pieced by Avis Collins Robinson in the style of Gee's Bend

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic

African American

American South

Art

Craftsmanship

Design

Record ID

nmaahc_2015.277

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd509d46def-8b69-4804-885f-dc722a082e2f