Late Medallion Quilt from Marie R. Suhr

 

This medallion attributed to Marie Rucksdaeschel Suhr (1875-1968) of Staplehurst, Seward County, Nebraska, thought to date from the mid 1890s is an intriguing example of a style format
not in much favor at the end of the 19th century.

Applique of any kind was not popular in 1890s Nebraska according to Pat Cox Crews's analysis of style in the Nebraska project. Contrast 1870 with 1890. Applique in medallions????

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1209&context=greatplainsresearch

The date the owner provided coincides with Marie Louise Johanna Elizabeth Rucksdaeschel's marriage to Franz Heinrich Christian Suhr (1865-1943.) The 20-year-old Marie may have finished this quilt about the time of her marriage before she began raising 12 children as a farm wife near Staplehurst.

The date seems quite plausible as the greens have the cloudy

loss of color one sees in the new synthetic greens at the time.

But the flair of the design is unusual for time and place.

Both Franz & Marie (Mary) were born in the United States to parents who emigrated from the German states. The 1930 census finds them with their three youngest children still at home.

People of German descent (and probably German-speakers) composed 10% of Seward County in 1910.
Like many German-speakers Seward Countians were persecuted for using their language during the first World War from about 1914 to 1920.

Staplehurst

No amount of patriotic show could quiet the haters who banned their books and language.

https://quiltindex.org//view/?type=fullrec&kid=29-24-3046

A second quilt top is also attributed to Marie Suhr, brought to the Nebraska quilt days by another owner

It's hard to see these two pieces as the work of one woman, but twelve children require a good deal of bedding. We are glad to see that Marie's medallion has remained in such good condition despite the kids.

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