Folk Art 1935 Signature Quilt – Hand Embroidered Engagement Quilt – Orange County NY – 74” x 96”

This remarkable 1935 Folk Art signature quilt is a community-made textile created as an engagement gift for a young woman preparing for marriage during the Great Depression. Originating in Orange County, New York, the quilt serves as both a functional covering and a preserved piece of American folk art. While the top is dated 1935 in multiple blocks, the back and quilting are from the 1990s when the quilt was finished with longarm quilting.

Each individual block features hand-embroidered pictorial designs, signatures, dates, and affectionate messages contributed by family and friends from all over the country. The imagery ranges from Popeye to animals to florals, hearts, and playful cartoon-style scenes — all rendered in a charming, naïve folk style that captures the spirit and resilience of life in 1935.

The back is turquoise/green cotton while the binding is white cotton that has been machine stitched to the front and hand-stitched to the back. The cotton batting is lightweight.

Details

• Date: 1935 (signed and dated)
• Origin: Orange County, New York
• Type: Folk Art Signature / Engagement Quilt
• Construction: Hand-embroidered pictorial blocks with turquoise/green sashing
• Quilting: Long-arm quilted in the 1990s
• Batting: Lightweight Cotton
• Size: 74” x 96”
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition

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