Antique 1840s Sunburst Quilt with Pennsylvania Provenance – 102” x 102”

This extraordinary, museum-worthy antique Sunburst quilt comes from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Dating to the 1840s, and featuring nine large, radiating sunburst stars, it is made in circular blocks set against a beautifully hand-quilted ivory ground. The size, workmanship, condition and technical mastery make this quilt truly exceptional.

Now approximately 180 years old, this quilt was exhibited at a Mountain Mist Quilt Show in the 1940s (see photos of original show tag) when it was a mere 100 years old while it was owned by Lloyd Clarence Hinton (1907-1998) of Lancaster, Pa. See photos.

The fabrics include:
• Turkey reds with small floral sprigs
• Early chrome/vegetal greens with geometric and vine motifs
• Fine, tightly woven early cotton prints consistent with 1830–1850 production

The exquisite hand-quilting is in feathered wreaths, floral medallions and structured gridwork, all done in exceptionally small stitches. The back is off-white/cream cotton that has been turned to the back and hand-stitched to form the binding. The cotton batting is very lightweight.

This quilt is in excellent antique condition for its age with some tiny fabric losses in some of the red fabric and some toning in the off-white/cream areas. Overall, this quilt presents beautifully and retains exceptional structural integrity.

📏 Details
• Pattern: Sunburst / Star (nine-block layout)
• Date: Circa 1840s
• Origin: Lloyd Clarence Hinton (1907-1998) of Lancaster, Pa.
• Size: 102” x 102” (oversized, square format)
• Materials: Early cotton fabrics, cotton batting, hand quilting
• Construction: Entirely and finely hand-pieced and hand-quilted

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