QUILT INDEX RECORD

5-2-303

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Illinois State Museum

Who documented this quilt?

Illinois Quilt Research Project; Illinois State Museum Collection

Illinois Quilt Research Project Registry Number:

SP732

Alternate inventory control number:

1970.27 (746748)

Person filling out this form is:

Relative of quiltmaker

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Quilt owner's name:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's Name (top):

Schmitt, Stella Chesley

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

What is the quiltmaker's birthdate?

1872 IL

Was the quiltmaker married? If yes, when?

1892 IL

Quiltmaker's spouse's name:

Schmitt, Henry

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

at least 1 son, Victor

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Seewald, Mary P.

Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:

IL

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Chesley, Jefferson T.

Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:

IL

How did the owner get the quilt?

Gift

Where the quilt was made, county:

St. Clair

Where the quilt was made, state:

Illinois (IL)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Anything else we should know about this quilt? (i.e. customs, stories):

Stella's father died when she was young and her mother worked as a seamstress in Summerfield, IL, and Stella would have had access to many silk scraps. Stella was also an artist and did some china painting, a talent that she also applied to the painting on this quilt. This is probably a friendship quilt made before Stella's wedding in 1892. Stella moved with her husband to Indiana sometime after her marriage.

Date owner signed the form:

1970

Pattern name; used by owner or by maker:

Crazy

How was the inscription marked?

Embroidery; Other

Describe the method used to inscribe the quilt:

Paint

Date provided by maker/owner:

1889

Date estimated by IQRP:

1889

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Jan Wass, Curator

Time period:

1876-1900

Length:

69

Width:

68

Block size:

about 23

Format:

Finished quilt

Piecing techinques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing; Foundation Piecing

Stitches used to apply motifs:

Many decorative embroidery stitches, painted images, some applied velvet flowers and leaves.

Construction (top):

Crazy

Block style (top):

Squares

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Number of full blocks; pieced, appliqued, and plain:

9

Fabric; fibers:

Silk

Fabric print:

Multiple scrap

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

velvet, satin

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Describe the quilting designs used:

Backing only attached at binding.

How are the layers held together?

Not quilted

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Describe the borders:

None.

Binding and edge treatment:

Bias grain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Silk

Fabric structure of the binding:

Satin/sateen

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

less than a half inch

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

Filler:

No filling

Surface decoration:

Embroidery; Painting; Attachments (beading, charms, buttons, etc)

How many pieces of fabric were used to make the quilt back?

2

Backing; fiber content:

Cotton

Description of the back:

polished twill weave

Backing; fabric:

Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

Backing; width of pieces (in inches):

36

Backing; color:

Maroon

Condition:

Good/moderate use

Describe specific damage to the quilt:

Disintegration of fabric

Inscription:

Date

Inscription: front/back?

on block

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Chesley, Stella

The quilt was made to be used for:

Decorative throw