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
Cite this Quilt
Estava, Denis. Bel peyizan lakay. 10/9/2010. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Human Rights; The Black Diaspora Quilt History Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-5654. Accessed: 06/08/24
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