Antique c. 1880s Federal Chain Quilt | Cheddar Yellow & Turkey Red | Hand-Quilted Feather Wreaths | 74″ × 77″

This is an exceptional Late Victorian Federal Chain Quilt (circa 1880–1895) executed in saturated chrome/cheddar yellow and vibrant Turkey red cottons with a striking and unusual four-sided border.

The hand piecing is very precise while the hand quilting is dense and exquisite - in feather wreaths, outline quilting and crosshatch grids.

The back is white cotton while the binding is cheddar orange cotton that has been handstitched to both sides. The cotton batting is lightweight and thin.

CONDITION: Excellent antique condition. The red and yellow dyes remain vivid, clear, and stable, with no bleeding or migration into the white ground. Fabric is supple and structurally sound. There is one small repair to a seam on the front. Please closely review the photos as they form an important part of the description.

Specifications
Dimensions: 74″ × 77″
Date / Era: Circa 1880–1895 (Late 19th Century)
Pattern: Federal Chain / Star Chain Variant with Full Pieced Border 
Color Palette: Rich Cheddar / Chrome Yellow, Turkey Red, Antique White Ground 
Materials: 100% Period Plain-Weave Cotton Face and Backing; Low-Loft Cotton Batting 
Technique: Precision Pieced; Entirely Hand-Quilted 
Edge Finishing: Separate Hand-Applied Cheddar Bias Binding, Folded and Whipstitched to Back 
Quilting & Construction Highlights
Elaborate Secondary Hand-Quilting: Large feather wreath and floral medallion motifs fill the expansive setting squares, complemented by close in-the-ditch outline quilting along the chains and delicate diagonal tracking across the pieced blocks. 
Period Loom Width Backing: The plain-weave white cotton backing features authentic pieced panel construction, reflecting the 32″–36″ domestic bolt widths standard to the late 19th century. 
Textile Integrity: Low-loft cotton batting has shrunk evenly over time, producing micro-puckering and texture across every block.