QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-275

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

01.0013

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

2001:158.13

Object label:

Medallion Chintz
Unknown relative of the Ranson family
Provenance unknown
c1820
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2001:158.13

Essay:

Kitty Clark Cole purchased the quilt on eBay. A typed index card attached to the quilt says, "This quilt (owned by Miss Rose Ranson, 1507 Mound Avenue, Jacksonville, Illinois) was handed down through the Ranson family and was most likely made in the middle 1700s or earlier. Note that none of the figures or designs are repeated in fabrics of the 19th century. It's chief interest is in the medallion in the center, which represents birds, fruits, and flowers. This medallion undoubtedly predates the patches around it, as the coloring has been differently applied to it in a hit and miss fashion." Quilt scholar Merikay Woldvogel thought the quilt may be older and that the fabric was from England.

By Beth Donaldson, excerpted from The Michigan Quilt Project: New Discoveries exhibit.

Quilt's title:

Framed Quilt

Owner's name for the quilt:

Chintz Medallion

Time period:

1800-1849

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

82 1/4

How long is the quilt?

89

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Beige or Tan; Brown; Cream; Pink

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Fair/worn

Damage:

Stains; Tears or holes

Notes on condition, damage, or repairs:

The quilt is very fragile and tears easily when handled.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Size of quilt blocks:

The center chintz is printed with a flowering tree or plant in a vase surrounded by floral motifs. A bird sits on the tree. A printer border with a floral design and a bird in each of the corners, finishes this tan, pink, aqua and cream, 14 3/4" x 16 1/2"

Medallion size:

14 3/4

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Number of borders:

6

Describe the borders:

The first border is 5" wide and 5 1/2" on the top and bottom. It is made of 1/2 square triangles. The corners are solid tan and solid cream. The rest are solid cream and a striped floral print in browns and pinks. The second border has 4 cornerstones 8" square of solid cream with appliques in the striped floral print. The applique is an 8 petaled stylized flower. The corners are connected by 8" x 26" rectangles of a single piece of fabric, a tan ground with a red, blue, cream, vine and a floral motif. The third border is 4 3/4" wide. Half square triangle corner blocks are a solid tan fabric and a pink and crean medium scale floral print. The rest of the half square triangle blocks are of the same floral print with a solid cream fabric. The fourth border is 11" wide. It has 8" squares of the same striped floral print used earlier on the quilt, set on point with solid cream setting triangles. The 4 corners are a pink vine with small brown and pink flowers on a cream background. The fifth border is 4 3/4" wide on the top and bottom of the quilt. Half square triangles of the pink vine and floral print on a cream background. The sixth border is on three sides only (it's not on the top) and is 5 " wide. Bias cut parallelograms of 2 brown prints alternate with solid cream parallelograms about 4" wide.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Print; Striped

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?

no

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

4

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Straight grain

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

less than a half inch

How wide is the binding (measure on the top only)?

3/8

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How thick is the quilt?

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

5

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

7

Can you see any knots on the front or back of the quilt?

no

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Echo; Double parallel lines

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

Kitty Clark Cole purchased the quilt on eBay. Mary Kay Woldvogel thought the quilt may be older and that the fabric was from England. A typed index card attached to the quilt says, "This quilt (owned by Miss Rose Ranson, 1507 Mound Avenue, Jacksonville, Illinois,) was handed down through the Ranson family and was most likely made in the middle 1700s or earlier. Note that none of the figures or designs are repeated in fabrics of the 19th century. It's chief interest is in the medallion in the center, which represents birds, fruits, and flowers. This medallion undoubtedly predates the patches around it, as the coloring has been differently applied to it in a hit and miss fashion."

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

Image

Source of the information on this quilt:

KItty Clark Cole, donor and museum employee

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

How was this quilt acquired?

Gift

Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:

Kitty Clark Cole purchased the quilt and donated it to the Michigan State University Museum.

Details

• 

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Mary Whalen

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum