QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-9960

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:

01.0010

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

2001:158.10

Object label:

Mosaic Applique
Maker unknown
Provenance unknown
c1930
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2001:158.10

Essay:

The free-style design of this quilt consists primarily of multicolored Masonic symbols appliquéd on a white background. Symbols include a square and compass with the letter "G", a scythe, Jacob's Ladder, and a pot of incense.

The Free and Accepted Masons or Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (generally referred to as Masons or Freemasons) are a fraternal organization whose origins date to the early 1700s. Little is known about the origins of this quilt, but it serves as a unique piece of material culture related to this fraternal organization.

By Mary Worrall, excerpted from American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum.

Quilt's title:

Masonic Appliqué

Owner's name for the quilt:

Masonic Symbol Appliqué

Subject of the quilt:

Masonic symbols

Time period:

1930-1949

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

67

How long is the quilt?

83 1/4

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Gold; Green; Lavender; Pink; Purple; Red; Yellow

Antique colors:

Cheddar Orange or Antimony or Chrome Orange

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Fair/worn

Describe the damage:

There is a yellowish, lime green stain around some of the green applique due to dye migration. Some of this has come through the back of the quilt.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Pictorial

Describe the quilt setting:

Large folk style appliques, applied over the surface of a cream whole cloth.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain

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

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

Fabric structure of the binding:

Plain weave

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)?

1/4

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Blanket or flannel

How thick is the quilt?

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Color of thread used in the quilting:

white

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

6

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:

Single parallel lines

Describe the quilting designs used:

Additional quilting in some of the appliques, such as circles and geometric shapes.

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

The quilt resembles a mosaic tile style applique with the appliqued pieces quite large. Kitty Clark Cole purchased this quilt from eBay, the seller was in California. The applique designs are of Masonic symbols including a square and compass with the letter "G" a scythe, Jacob's Ladder and a pot of incense.

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

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

Kitty Clark Cole purchased this quilt from eBay, the seller was in California. She donated it to the Michigan State University Museum.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum