| About African American/Gee's Bend Style Quilts |
| Click on the pictures below to see more views of my African American Antique Quilts. Shading is due to lighting, not representative of the quilt. Please call for the availability or any questions. |
| About African American/Gee's Bend Style Quilts |
| The first exhibit of African American quilts was held at Yale University in January of 1980. For the first time, people from all over the country could see the wonderful diversity, symbolism, and artistic ability of African American quilters. Our collection of African American quilts spans the time between 1860 and 1960. Many have names of the quilters or of their families, others have only the quilt’s location. Recently, the wonderful quilts from Gee's Bend, Alabama have been featured museum exhibits and highlighted in many magazines and television programs. These quilts are exciting examples of African American quilting, but not a separate entity. If you are interested in Gee's Bend quilts, we have many African American pieces from which to choose, many of which are similar to exhibited Gee's Bend pieces. Let us help you find the perfect quilt in this style! In general, there are traits that distinguish African American quilting from any other North American quilting style. The use of symbols, bright colors, vertical piecing, enlarged, very graphic designs, and asymmetry hark back to African cultures and textile style. The symbols incorporated into the quilts can be traced back to religious symbols originating in Africa and adapted through generations of (religious shift forced into making) living in America. Many symbols worked into a quilt so long ago are simply unknown to us, and must remain a mystery until new information is discovered. African American quilting also evokes emotional and visual responses similar to listening to jazz music. In the same way jazz emulates a pulsating heartbeat, African American quilts cause the eye to continuously shift from one area to the next. Our eyes can’t help but to keep moving across the ever changing design of the quilt. African American quilts are very personal, as is any interpretation of a particular piece. I am glad to say that over the past 20 years, I have noticed an increased appreciation of this uniquely American art form. Every one of these quilts is a truly unique piece of textile art, born out of the need to be creative and the necessity of using only materials at hand. If any African American quilters would like to contribute to our knowledge about these wonderful quilts, we would appreciate your feedback - please contact us! |
 |
 |
| Please view the detail photos (click thumbnail above) for more accurate colors. Q8224 African American Bars Variation 1950-1970 approx. 78 x 86 Southern $3,200 Today this quilt is recognized as the beautiful piece of art it is and amazingly similar to one of Betsey’s favorites she recently sold from the Petteway family of Gees Bend, Alabama. As Gees Bend is a town and not a style of quilt, similar pieces do come from other areas. Who knows ...this could be a missing piece? The vertical piecing, asymmetry and bold, colorful fabrics with the use of intentionally random sized pieces are all traditional elements of African American quilt design and are in abundance in this lovely piece. Plaids, stripes, paisleys, florals and more dance among solid colored fabrics in this uplifting quilt. There are large gentle arcs as well as areas of straight lines of neat and functional quilting throughout. This special quilt has seen some gentle use, but is in wonderful condition. The edges on two sides have been turned over from the back to the front, and pillowcase edged on the remaining two sides. The backing has been formed by piecing feed sacks. This wonderful find is now ready to display as art for your bed or wall. Betsey 's vote is for the wall! Professionally hand washed by Betsey.  |
|
 |
| Please view the detail photos (click thumbnail above) for more accurate colors. BT Private Collection - African American Child's Mourning Quilt c.1855 35 x 38 Maryland SOLD This extraordinary pre-Civil War quilt was made to grieve over the loss of a baby. It was created by an African American woman who is believed to have been a house slave. Quilting was often done by a slave and the mistress of the house, working together. I believe that to be the case here. This graphically wonderful textile is filled with symbolism, artistic beauty and skilled needlework. The extensive symbolism contained in this quilt, as represented even in its size, leaves no question as to the purpose behind its creation. Typical symbols of death, mourning and love are represented by the casket, the religious cross, hearts, shamrocks, and stars, along with the uniquely African American symbol of the six fingered hand. This amazing historical quilt from our American past was constructed from Turkey red and tobacco dyed green fabrics appliquéd onto an off-white background. The quilting throughout is in a chevron type pattern with line spacing ranging from ¼ to ¾ inches apart. The backing is a wonderful small Turkey red and white pattern indicative of c.1855. The 1/2 inch hand applied binding is of a solid Turkey red fabric. In unused and unwashed condition, this rare, museum quality textile art shows slight oxidation from the movement of the tobacco dyed green. It is truly a treasure to acquire in untouched, original condition. |
|
 |
| Please view the detail photos (click thumbnail above) for more accurate colors. CON PD6 African American Cobweb/Pinwheel Adaptation c.1950 75 x 75 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania $3,900 A totally unique African American folk art quilt, the creator of this piece took conventional patterns and turned them into a graphic delight of unexpected movement. The logs have been pieced into abstract pinwheels from a cotton conversation print featuring hats and umbrellas on a black background. Bright pops of yellow, pink, blue, and a multicolored stripe have been placed in the arrangement to give the overall feeling of an abstract cobweb pattern. Various bright feedsack prints have been pieced together to form the backing, and finished with a 1 ¼ inch separately applied yellow calico feedsack binding. In used but excellent condition, and tied with black cording. Subtle and sophisticated, with a visual jazz impact! Professionally hand washed by Betsey. |
|
 |
| Please view the detail photos (click thumbnail above) for more accurate colors. Q8179 African American Cotton Crazy Quilt – Memorial Quilt c.1890 70 x 75 Tennessee $2900 In the south, it was customary to remember loved ones by making a memorial quilt. Clothing worn by both the deceased and the family members would be pieced together and quilted, providing comfort to relatives and friends during and after the quilting process. In excellent condition, this quilt contains fabrics mostly from the 1880’s, all carefully hand pieced. Dark navy thread was used to hand quilt the entire piece in an overlapping fan pattern. The backing is a light tan cotton, and the 3/8 inch binding was formed by turning the backing over to the front and topstitching into place. Betsey was able to authenticate this quilt’s origin by family provenance. Professionally hand washed by Betsey. |
|
 |
| Please view the detail photos (click thumbnail above) for more accurate colors. Q8423 African American Center Medallion c.1940 60 x 73 Alabama $2,200 Such a unique quilt - if only it could talk! The fabrics in the center medallion are from the 1890's, and have been assembled in a very structured, regular pattern of color and geometry typical of Caucasian quilters. The bordering strip pieced log blocks contain fabrics from 1890 to 1940 and have been assembled in a classic African American style; very free flowing and unconcerned with rigid structure. We can conjecture that perhaps the center medallion was pieced by a Caucasian quilter and was given to an African American quilter at some later date, who then finished the top and assembled it into a quilt. This quilt has been pillowcase edged and tied with red Pearl cotton, and has an aqua and deep pink floral feedsack backing. |
|
 |
| Please view the detail photos (click thumbnail above) for more accurate colors. CON P&TS African American Stained Glass Five Point Star c. 1930 68 x 73 Texas $6,500 Wow! What a fabulous piece of African American history! The original quiltmaker's name has been lost to the passage of time, but Betsey guarantees the authenticity of this textile. The colors and graphics on this quilt transcend cultural boundaries, due to the great 1930's palette of solid feedsack fabrics and boldly asymmetrical star. All of the pieces have been outlined in a running backstitch, using thread colors to match each piece. The quilt is reverse tied with a pillowcase edging and a solid peach feedsack backing. This spectacular piece of African American art is waiting to become the focal point of any room in your home! Professionally hand washed by Betsey. |
|
 |
| Please view the detail photos (click thumbnail above) for more accurate colors. Q8314 African American “Bull’s Eye” c.1907 apx. 60”x80” Mississippi SOLD This quilt is an amazing piece of African American art. It is comprised of just a few fabrics in solids: red, white, blue and khaki (originally red). This khaki is a red aniline dye that did not hold its color. The backing of the quilt is of home-dyed feedsack fabric and is turned to the front to form the binding. The blocks in this piece measure 15 inches, and the sashing varies but measures approximately four inches wide. The quilt is pieced both by hand and machine, but is hand quilted with outline, triple line, and cross-hatch quilting. This quilt is full of symbolism and probably was made to commemorate a race riot in Georgia in 1907 where up to 45 African-Americans were killed. Circles in African American folk art bring to mind the cycling of life as suggested by the Kongo cosmogram. Additionally, red, white and blue are all considered to be protective colors, as well as providing the strong contrast of colors typical of many African American quilts. This wonderfully graphic piece of art is an excellent example of the African American aesthetic. In 'as-found' used condition and professionally hand washed by Betsey. |
|
 |
| Please view the detail photos (click thumbnail above) for more accurate colors. Q8247 African American Improvisational Sampler Quilt c.1950 78”x 90” Shenandoah Valley, Virginia $2600 This quilt is in the bars format typical of many African American quilts. The quilt is comprised of blocks in numerous patterns with 9” wide bars in between rows of blocks. The bars are comprised of hundreds of 1 ½”x2 ½” pieces that are the same print, but in four different colorways. The backing is a light green barkcloth that is turned over to the front to form a wide 1½” binding. The hand quilting on the piece is a combination of diagonal and clamshell quilting. This happy quilt is in unused condition and has been professionally hand washed by Betsey. |
|
Rocky Mountain Quilts
Shop Hours |
Payment Methods: Rocky Mountain Quilts gladly accepts cash, checks, Visa, Master Card and American Express. Bank wire transfers are an easy method of payment for both domestic and international sales. If you are traveling, we will be happy to ship your purchases via UPS or FedEx at your convenience. |
|
Contact Us |
| Telephone - for orders or questions - 1-800-762-5940 or 1-207-363-6800 Email - betsey@rockymountainquilts.com Shipping UPS/FedEx address - 130 York Street York Village, Maine 03909 |
| Link To Top Of Quilts |
|