QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5654

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Human Rights; The Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

10.0180

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2010:137.1

Object label:

Bel Peyizan Lakay (Beautiful Peasant Household)
Denise Estava
Cornillon-Grand Bois, Haiti
2010
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2010:137.1

Essay:

This is a beautiful example of the quilts being produced in Haiti, with dense echo quilting, which is a hallmark of their style. The title is in Haitian Creole. The artist, Denise Estava, is one of the founding members of the first PeaceQuilts cooperatives. There are now 7 co-ops with about 100 women. Since the earthquake, Denise got married and has an infant daughter named Betseida. The house that she and her husband were in the process of building was destroyed in the earthquake. PeaceQuilts has been able to provide some relief assistance to help with the rebuilding process. The purchase of this quilt will directly benefit her and her cooperative, Artisanat Patchwork de Paix (Peace Cooperative). All of the funds from art quilt sales are returned to them.

Quilt's title:

Bel peyizan lakay

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Beautiful Peasant Household

Quilt top made by:

Estava, Denise

Quilted by:

Estava, Denise

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Purchased the quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Cornillon-Grand Bois

Where the quilt was made, country:

Haiti

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt started?

9/5/2010

When was the quilt finished?

10/9/2010

Why was the quilt made?

Art or personal expression; Fundraising

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

34 3/4"

How long is the quilt?

34"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Black; Blue; Brown; Gray; Green; Orange; Pink; Red; Yellow

Overall color scheme:

Bright or primary colors

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Type of inscription:

Signature; Message

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Hand embroidered on a label on the back Bel Peyizan Lakay De Paix Lilavois 29 Haiti Commence Le 5/9/010 Finila 9/10/010 34.75 x 34 Denise Estavat Also embroidered on the top Bel peyizan lakay in the sky and Denise Estavat along the bottom border.

Method used to make the inscription:

Attached label

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Medallion size:

26" x 26"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Number of borders:

2

Describe the borders:

Inner, 1 1/2"; outer, 3".

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

The machine piecing was done on a treadle sewing machine.

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

1

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Straight grain; Front turned to back

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

less than a half inch

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Clamshell; Echo

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

This is a really beautiful example of the quilts being produced in Haiti, with dense echo quilting, which is a hallmark of their style. The title is in Haitian Creole. The artist, Denise Estava, is one of the founding members of the first PeaceQuilts cooperatives. We now have 7 co-ops with about 100 women. Since the earthquake, Denise got married and has an infant daughter named Betseida. The house that she and her husband were in the process of building was destroyed in the earthquake. PeaceQuilts has been able to provide some relief assistance to help with the rebuilding process. The purchase of this quilt will directly benefit her and her cooperative, Artisanat Patchwork de Paix (Peace Cooperative). All of the funds from art quilt sales are returned to them.

Source of the information on this quilt:

Museum employee

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

Peacequilts-building better lives through art. A quiltmaking cooperative in Haiti whose executive director, Jeanne Staples is from Edgartown, MA. You can purchase quilts from this group at their website: www.haitipeacequilts.org.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees