Rare c. 1860s Double Nine-Patch Antique Quilt - Masterful Feather Quilting - 77" x 80"

This is a classic Nine Patch quilt from Pennsylvania is made unique by its dramatic and extensive quilting with a stitch count that is incredibly fine. The quilting includes heart-shaped feather wreaths, finely-detailed berry baskets with stipple-quilted baskets, feathers with deeply textured circular plumes, micro-pebbling, clamshells and triple diagonals along the border. This was clearly made as a "best" quilt—a piece created for a dowry or a special occasion.

Then there are the fabulous 1860-1870s fabrics that make up the small-scale Nine Patches that measure just 3 1/2" square.
The fabrics include:
• Turkey Red & Madder Prints: The chain is composed of various "Double Pink" and Turkey Red calicoes.
• The Green Border: The triple-banded green border appears to be a "veggie" or early synthetic green. It retains a lovely, soft mossy hue that beautifully frames the vibrant reds.
• The Ground: Unbleached or "white-on-white" cotton ground

The back is unbleached cotton, while the binding is green cotton that has been finely hand-stitched to both sides. The cotton batting is very lightweight.

The quilt is sturdy and in very good antique condition with a fraying binding, age-related fading and some minor "shredding" of some of the darker red & brown print fabrics (see photos), likely due to the iron that was often used as a mordant in the dyeing process in the 19th century and, which, over 150 years, slowly oxidizes and leads to fabric shredding.

Details:
• Pattern: Single Irish Chain with very Fancy Quilting.
• Era: Mid-to-Late 19th Century (Circa 1860).
• Dimensions: 77" x 80"
• Construction: Entirely hand-pieced and hand-quilted.
• Colorway: Turkey Red, Madder Pink, Moss Green, and Antique Cream

The quilt comes from a smoke-free, pet-free home and is pictured on a queen-size bed.
HL00027