King's Crown Variation
Maker unknown
New England
ca 1830
80 1/2" x 92"
Cotton with cotton filling
6620.3
Photo by Fumio Ichikawa, all rights reserved by the MSU Museum

Eighteenth-century quilts, whether pieced or appliqued, were often designed in either a medallion or vertical style. The setting of this quilt shows the progression to the block style that occurred early in the nineteenth century. The large triangles on the outer edges are appliqued in a tiny, stair-step variation. The clever use of scraps disguises some of the seams needed to complete the top. A few of the cotton fabrics used in this quilt were manufactured before 1830, but most were made after that date The green quilt block is an excellent example of the overdyed greens, typical for this time. The quilt also contains an ombre, a fabric that has subtle shading in its background. Some of the many purple fabrics have faded to brown, while others have maintained their color well.

By Beth Donaldson, excerpted from American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum.