Antique Pickle Dish Cutter Quilt, c. 1920s, Blue Shirtings & Pink Calicoes, 64"x72"

This striking Antique Pickle Dish quilt dates to the early 20th century and beautifully features a classic mix of blue shirtings, stripes, checks, and soft pink calicoes. The quilter expertly hand-pieced the tiny (1-inch) triangles into bold curved patchwork making this a beautiful example of the Pickle Dish pattern.

The fabrics include indigo and cadet blues, black-and-white prints, narrow stripes, and small-scale shirtings. It has been treadle-machine quilted in an all-over diamond grid in sometimes wavering lines with a slight side-to-side drift typical of early treadle machines.

The back is an off-white gauzy muslin (open weave) that has been turned to the front and machine-stitched to form the binding. The cotton batting is unsized and lightweight.

CONDITION: This quilt is being sold as a cutter quilt. There is fabric loss throughout, affecting approximately 10% of the pickle dish blocks, along with fraying, thinning, and fragile areas—particularly in lighter fabrics along edges. See photos.

Details:
• Pattern: Pickle Dish
• Date: circa 1920s
• Size: 64” x 72”
• Materials: cotton fabrics, cotton batting
• Construction: hand pieced and treadle machine quilted
• Colors: pink, blue, cream, black, tan, and brown shirtings
• Backing: plain light muslin
• Condition: cutter quilt with approximately 10% fabric loss, plus fraying, thinning, and general antique wear

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