Antique Victorian Folk Art Doll Quilt c. 1885–1895 – Hand Pieced & Hand Quilted – 23” x 23”

This is an unusual late Victorian miniature scrap quilt dating to 1885 to 1895 with 19th-century cottons arranged in hand-pieced triangles. Measuring 23” x 23”, this small quilt appears to be an early quilting project, possibly a first project by a young girl, given the slightly irregular piecing, unevenly matched points, and variations in the triangle arrangements. These same characteristics give the quilt a distinctive folk art quality.

The central patchwork is late 19th-century deep magenta and claret floral calicos, Turkey red prints, vivid yellow sprigged cottons, black-and-white mourning-style prints, novelty motifs, woven shirting checks, and multicolored plaids.

The center is framed by a wide pink-and-white printed cotton border, followed by a distinctive sawtooth border of alternating muted indigo-blue and faded pink triangles. There is a final border of matching pink printed cotton.

The back is an off-white cotton with tiny stripes that has been turned to the front and handstitched to form the binding. The quilt does not appear to have any batting.

Details:
* Date: Circa 1885–1895, late Victorian era
* Size: 23” x 23”
* Pattern: Scrappy half-square triangles with sawtooth border
* Fabrics: Assorted late 19th-century cotton calicos, shirtings, plaids, and novelty prints
* Construction: Entirely hand pieced and hand quilted
* Quilting: Simple diagonal and straight-line hand quilting
* Borders: Pink printed cotton with blue and pink sawtooth patchwork
* Backing: Fine red-and-white checked cotton
* Binding: Narrow cotton binding turned from the back
* Possible original purpose: Doll quilt or beginner’s quilting sampler

CONDITION: Very good antique condition for a textile approximately 130–140 years old, with age-related fading, minor fabric wear, and irregularities in the original hand piecing and quilting. The uneven construction is consistent with its probable origins as an early quilting project. Please examine the photographs as they form an important part of the description.