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Sharecropper’s Masterpiece

National Museum of African American History and Culture

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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
Record ID
nmaahc_2015.277
Usage of Metadata (Object Detail Text)
Usage conditions apply
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd509d46def-8b69-4804-885f-dc722a082e2f
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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