Exceptional c.1850s Sunflower Quilt -- Early Hand Pieced Heirloom Quilt– Large 88” x 95”

This is an exceptional mid-19th-century Sunflower quilt, dating to approximately 1845–1865. The quilt features expertly pieced Sunflowers with sharp points and beautiful fabrics of Turkey red, madder brown, early blues, tans, and soft chrome yellows. Every Sunflower is unique, demonstrating early scrap quilting. The quilt is entirely hand pieced and hand quilted, with fine, even stitching throughout.

The quilting ranges from flower/leaf vines to geometric and floral loops to outlines of the patchwork. A four-sided bold double-diamond pieced border frames the quilt, while the back is a plain woven fabric white cotton. The binding is a woven ribbon that has been hand-stitched to both sides while the cotton batting unsized and very lightweight.

The quilt is in excellent condition for its age, showing gentle, honest wear that reflects over 170 years of history. While it remains structurally sound and display-worthy, it has some fabric loss and thinning in several sunflowers (see photos).

Details
• Date: circa 1845–1865
• Pattern: Sunflower
• Construction: Hand pieced, hand quilted
• Size: 88” x 95”
• Materials: Cotton fabrics with early dyes; plain woven backing
• Condition: Excellent antique condition with age-appropriate wear
• Batting: Lightweight, unsized cotton

The quilt comes from a smoke-free, pet-free home and is pictured on a queen-size bed.