CONTC7 Blazing Star Quilt
c.1825
107 x 107 inches
New York
$8,400
A Blazing Star Chintz quilt that can rank among the most exquisite 200
year old American quilts. The Chintz fabrics used were fabrics for only
the wealthiest women to acquire. After the Revolutionary War, women's
fashion designs changed. From that point on there were scraps of fabrics
from which to create amazing patterns. Here is such an example.
There are 16 different fabrics making up the Star with a whole cloth
light peach Chintz backing and the incredible floral chintz emanating
out from the star. There are numerous hand painted block prints and
copper plate chintz. Most of the fabrics are visually soothing....by
this I mean I feel peaceful while being captivated by the quality and
design of these fabrics. While at the same time this quilt is stunningly
graphic! What a captivating Textile for your great room...or for a
guest room bed fit for a museum. This is a museum quality quilt!
Naturally, due to the age, all dyes are vegetable or plant based.
Fabrics would have been approximately 12" to 18" selvedge to selvedge
and could easily have cost $6 a yard. Mind boggling in respect to the
dollar today.
The diamonds have 2-1/2 inch sides with 1,368 diamonds making up the
pieced Blazing Star. This is a quilt that looks as if never used and
packed away for 200 years only to resurface to be loved and appreciated
today.