Vintage 1935 Double Wedding Ring Quilt – Signed & Dated – Hand Quilted – 86” x 100”

This is a beautiful and unusually well-documented Double Wedding Ring quilt made in 1935, with the maker’s signature and date embroidered directly onto the pink backing. The inscription reads “Narcissa Thiele 1935,” giving this Depression-era quilt a wonderful piece of its original history. The quilt comes from New Jersey. It appears that Narcissa Thiele would have been about 22 or 23 years old at the time she made the quilt in the midst of the Great Depression in Chicago, Illinois.

It is generously sized at approximately 86” x 100” and is entirely hand quilted. The classic interlocking rings are constructed from an assortment of small-scale 1930s cotton prints in pink, blue, lavender, yellow, green, aqua, red and black, mixed with checks, plaids, stripes, geometrics and florals. The variety is excellent, with many fabrics appearing only once and providing a wonderful look at Depression-era dress and scrap-bag cottons.

The rings themselves are heavily scrappy, while alternating salmon/coral and pale pink melon-shaped pieces emphasize the intersections. Pink and cream four-patch units connect the rings and give the quilt a particularly pretty, cohesive palette despite the enormous variety of fabrics.

The white ground is extensively hand quilted with decorative motifs, including geometric and floral designs within the open areas, and with outline quilting in the patchwork sections.

One of the most striking features is the elaborate scalloped edge which follows the curves of the outer wedding rings. The back is a solid pink cotton as is the narrow binding which has been handstitched to both sides and follows each individual curve. The cotton batting is lightweight and thin.

CONDITION: The quilt is in very good vintage condition. This 1935 quilt is sturdy and beautiful with several issues consistent with its age approaching 100 years old. Specifically, there are two old repairs/patches, including the larger white patch visible in the photographs. Some of the lighter fabrics also show fading. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.

Details:
* Pattern: Double Wedding Ring
* Date: 1935 – signed and dated
* Inscription: “Narcissa Thiele 1935”
* Size: approximately 86” x 100”
* Depression-era scrappy cotton prints
* Pink, coral and cream accent fabrics
* Hand quilted
* Decorative floral and outline quilting
* Solid pink backing
* Deep scalloped outer edge
* Narrow pink binding