Vigo County Historical Society
On-Line Exhibit
Quilts of the Collection
Quilts 1 - 10
Size - 72" x 72"
Style - Pressed Quilt - Log Cabin Style
Black-brown background with silk and various textures. Small center squares all red; plain black squares set between have red machine - stitched quilting. Some holes from silk breaking. Tan backing is cambric.
Size - 80" x 72"
Style - Patchwork Quilt
Red and white cotton 5" blocks, embroidered in red, each design is different, set together with 1-1/2" red strips in diagonal design. Red 1-1/2" border, hemmed. White backing. White blocks quilted in straight lines, red in inch diamonds.
1870-1900 est. Good condition.
Size - 64" x 61"
Style - Crazy Quilt
Historical quilt with five faces pictured on the quilt. The faces are Senator Daniel Vorhees, James G. Blaine (of Maine), General John A. Logan (of Illinois), Grover Cleveland, and Thomas A. Hendricks (of Indiana). These last four men were presidential contenders from the 1884 US Presidential Election.
All colors are silk; the backing is black and white checkered satin, trimmed with red faggoting. The five figures are appliquéd with hand-drawn faces in oriental dress; 5 faces are from ribbons. Yellow feather stitching on front. Nine large blocks. Quilt is in good condition.
Size - 62-1/2" x 42"
Style - Crazy Quilt
This quilt is a crazy quilt has square and spokes. It contains a ribbon from the October 1, 1887 reception for President Grover Cleveland. Heavily padded in spoke. Metallic trim, 1 square chenille. Jewel-toned silks. The backing is cotton sateen; tacked along spoke. Two birds are painted in center. One piece contains "presented by Pixley & Co." Very fragile condition.
Size - 80" x 72"
Style - Patchwork or Pieced
The quilt is pieced and tacked. Silk or rayon material. 5" blocks, 5 strips, set at random. Cotton sateen backing. Donated by Gladys Tilley. Some fading on back. Some blocks are fraying. Some materials have disintegrated.
Size - 84" x 78"
Style - Patchwork or Pieced
The quilt is a "mosaic" pattern. Black silk background with rose silk backing. There are a variety of colors with 7/8" pieces. The pieces are whipped together. Quilted around a flower shape with black thread. Frayed edging and stains on back.
Size - 70" x 58"
Style - Crazy Quilt
This quilt has a blue border with cotton sateen backing. There is a variety of embroidery (birds and flowers) with raised flowers stuffed or appliquéd. Individually embroidered. Worn with age (the fabric is disintegrating). Feather stitching in light blue on wide border edge. Stains on back.
Size - 84" x 72"
Style - Patchwork or Pieced
"Dresden Plate" , "Friendship Ring" or "Aster". Blue and brown pieces with red center and background (wools). Background is quilted pieces are outlined with faggoting. Embroidery designs over the Dresden plate design - flower, animals, birds, "faith", "hope", "sweet rest" embroidered in; bible cross designed by maker embroidered; filled in with straight stitches. Backing is striped flannel, grey cotton. The quilt has a very original, homespun look. Estimated between 1875-1900.
Size - 70" x 80"
Style - Crazy Quilt
New maroon taffeta backing with gold feather stitching. Large squares with a border on one side. Silk and taffeta. The backing is turned to make edging. Fragile front. Quilt is from 1875 and is part of a trousseau made by Sarah Blade Bence.
Size - 80" x 77"
Style - Appliqué
Cotton, quilted, swag border. Green, red, red print pieced flower with four branches. Four large squares. Printed edge to bind. Quilt was made about 1870 by Martha (cruzan) Martz (1832-1872) at Arcadia, Indiana. She was the mother of Mary Alice (Martz) Burroughs (1863-1950), mother of Carrie B. Call. Vigo County Historical Society accession number A68-5-5.
