Q9108 Harvard University /Massachusetts Miniature Cigar Ribbon Quilt

c.1885
34 x 34 inches
Massachusetts
$2,800

This quilt is currently featured in the exhibition Cut and Paste: 400 Years of Collage held at The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, Scotland, from June 29 to October 27, 2019. It may be seen on page 21 in their book Cut and Paste: 400 Years of Collage, published by the National Galleries Scotland.

Many Victorian women were resourceful, creative and loved embellishing. In the homes of today, when we have stopped embellishing, Victorian women have just begun...I like to say that these women embellished the embellishment. However, in addition Victorian women loved to be creative and excelled in needlework of all kinds. As a trendy habit most Victorian men smoked cigars. These cigars, in clusters, were wrapped in beautiful silk ribbons denoting the manufacturer. This advertiser design resulted in exquisite silk ribbons waiting to be creatively assembled in a piece of textile art. This Massachusetts woman, whose husband may have attended Harvard, has taken the silk cigar bands and created a version of the log cabin completely from these ribbons. The reason why I date this mid 1880’s is because of the vibrant colors. Later, the colors (mostly blue, orange and red) faded more easily due to a change in dyeing techniques. These miniature quiltx are rare not only because of their scarcity, but because of the rarity of the colors and the manufacturers, notably Harvard. There are numerous ribbons from Massachusetts companies and over a dozen crimson Harvard University ribbons. One ribbon includes a patriotic golden American eagle holding an arrow. What an amazing piece of textile art for your home or office. In perfect original condition and ready to be sent for your approval.

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