Antique 1890s Touching Stars Quilt with Extensive Trapunto Quilting – 84” x 90”

This is an outstanding, museum-quality, late 19th century Touching Stars Quilt, dating to the circa 1885-1895 period, distinguished by its extensive and beautifully executed trapunto (stuffed) quilting throughout—a rare and very labor-intensive feature, particularly across a full 25-block composition.

The quilt's fabrics are a rich composition of late 19th century cottons, including:
• chrome yellow and cheddar prints
• classic double pink calicoes
• madder-style reds and warm browns
• early stable greens
• small-scale dark calico grounds

These fabrics are characteristic of the Victorian-era calico palette, and their consistent scale and coloration suggest a deliberate and thoughtful selection rather than purely utilitarian scrap use.

The back is calendered cotton -- meaning it has a glaze or gloss from being run through heated rollers under pressure when it was manufactured. The cotton batting is lightweight.

CONDITION: This quilt has been meticulously cared for and is in excellent condition with two of the green stars point showing a localized area of dye shift (from green to teal in one 1/2 spot), a natural and commonly observed change in late 19th century green dyes.

Details:
• Hand pieced and hand quilted throughout
• Extensive original trapunto quilting (stuffed work)
• Raised feather wreaths and rosette motifs across the field
• Well-balanced 25-block Touching Stars layout
• Thick, sculptural quilting with excellent definition
• Size: 90” x 82”

Notes:
Quilts combining this level of trapunto work with a fully developed pieced star composition are uncommon, particularly in such complete and original condition. The combination of extensive, consistently executed trapunto, a large 25-block composition, and fully original materials places this quilt within a category often associated with museum-held examples and advanced private collections.

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