Chimney Sweep
Harriet Ameila Lawrence
Hartland, Niagra County, New York
1850
Cotton
78” x 86”
MSUM 2242.14, Gift of Mrs. Clark L. Wood
Photo by Fumio Ichikawa, all rights reserved Michigan State University Museum

The popularity of signature album quilts, which became a fad in the early nineteenth century, lasted well into the early twentieth century. This example is made in the "Chimney Sweep" block pattern (sometimes called "Christian Cross") that was especially prevalent in New York. The design of the "Chimney Sweep" pattern contains a large rectangular central block suitable for carrying a signature. Sometimes the name was rendered in the maker's own handwriting, other times it was lettered. Either way, the names were usually embroidered, inked or stamped. An inscription in one of the corner blocks reads: "April 27th Hartland 1850/Harriet Ameila Lawrence/Niagra County/New York."

From American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum