For Pattern & Purpose: Quilts From the Shelburne Museum

Centennial Flag Quilt

Shelburne Museum

The blue star print is cut from flags printed to celebrate the 1876 Centennial.

Some photos of quilts from the Shelburne Museum taken at the recent

exhibit at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha.

The Centennial quilt had two faux patchwork squares in the corners.

The poster quilt by Ellen Fullard Wright

One of my favorites---diagonal applique

I was glad to see this one they call Mountain Laurel

as I am still confused about the age. The lighter blues look as

if they've faded in that 1880-1930 fashion. The label said early 20th century.

This Mariner's Compass has always struck me as so

modern in its geometry. I was glad to see it up close to find that the

blue print is more a mid-19th-century Prussian blue than a

late-century cadet blue (as I always suspected.)

I was wrong.

One way to improve one's skills at dating is to make a guess at a date

before reading the label. Practice with feedback.

Many were familiar as they'd been published in the Shelburne's

catalogs over the years.

Each square a different pattern in stuffed work

Love this border edge, appliqued star halves.

The Sunflower is simpler than it appears:

Sunflowers in squares stacked and separated by narrow green

strips.

A great wheel design with a range of fabric from about 1840 to 1890.

The brown print with oval rings one of the late prints...

The blue, buff and red browns here one of the earliest.

Another of my favorites.

Scrappy applique.

I liked their oak leaf and reel so much I made my own years ago.