Images(4)

Quilt, Amish Pieced Log Cabin

Date1890-1910

Maker Unidentified

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, probably Lancaster County

MediumCotton, wool, and cotton/wool (fiber identification by microscope)

DimensionsOverall: 85 1/2 × 85in. (217.2 × 215.9cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2022.609.5

DescriptionThis is a square quilt with rounded corners pieced in the “Log Cabin” technique in shades of solid green, blue, brown, and orange, with the colors arranged to form concentric diamonds in the so-called “Barn Raising” pattern. A wide (10 ½”) border of solid orange is quilted through very thin batting in brown running stitches, 9-10 stitches per inch, in a scrolling feather pattern. A narrow half-inch binding of blue is machine-stitched to the edges. The quilt backing is a textured two-tone brown crepe (?) textile. The Log Cabin areas are constructed using a variety of primarily solid-color fabrics, including plain weave, twill, ribbed, corded, fancy float weaves, and one piece of printed light-ground textile. The construction includes hand and machine stitching.
Label TextThis Amish quilt is made in the "Log Cabin" pattern not usually found in Pennsylvania Amish bed quilts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, although it was a popular choice for other American quiltmakers. The inclusion of two logs of printed fabric is also atypical. The wide border surrounding the logs is quilted in a typical Amish feather pattern.

ProvenanceEx-collection: Dr. Patricia Herr

The quilt has a verbal history of being made for a woman named Mrs. John Lapp by her mother. It was first purchased out of the family from Mrs. Ben "Stolzfuz" [Stoltzfus] (the spelling was "Stolzfuz" on the card that accompanied the quilt) of the New Holland, Pennsylvania area. Drs. Donald and Patricia ("Trish") Herr purchased it from David Riehl of Narvon, Pennsylvania, in 1981. In 2022 it was sold at Pook & Pook auction to Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA.