1890-1899

Janet E. Finley Collection of Quilt History Photographs

Luverne, Minnesota, United States

Cabinet Card c. 1885-1892
Photographer: Myhre, Luverne, Minnesota
Size: 4.25" x 6.25"

Infants were commonly photographed in a portrait studio setting as nestled in an elaborate wicker carriage positioned in front of a painted backdrop. This particular carriage is adorned with a parasol and a Crazy quilt laptop covering. Both the wicker carriage and Crazy quilt throw were most likely studio props. In all my pictures of this genre, there has always appeared the ubiquitous Crazy quilt in the wicker carriage, never any other kind of quilt. This is really a statement of the unparalleled popularity of the Crazy quilt at the time.

-- With permission of the publisher, excerpted from Janet E. Finley, Quilts in EveryDay Life 1855-1955 (Schiffer Publishing, 2012).