QUILT INDEX RECORD
11-37-7140
Essay:
Archipelago
1983
Nancy Halpern
Natick, Massachusetts
96"w x 74.5"h
Hand & machine pieced; hand appliquéd; hand quilted
Quilted signature in the lower right hand corner: Nancy Halpern Archipelago 1983
Cotton & synthetic fabrics
The New England Quilters' Guild commissioned this piece in 1982. It was unveiled at New England Images I, the Guild's first major quilt show, which raised funds toward the opening of a quilt museum. Archipelago was the first quilt in the collection of the New England Quilt Museum. Its unique house motif was adopted as the symbol of The New England Quilt Museum. Archipelago was designated one of the twentieth century's best American quilts in 1999. Nancy's original design features houses and trees on the islands off the coast of Maine where many artists live and find inspiration. The sense of community is reinforced by her use of fabrics given to her by 22 friends. Her undulating quilting lines suggest the movement of the sea, fog, and ocean breezes.
Gift of The New England Quilters' Guild with funding provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities, 1983.01
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Massachusetts Quilt Documentation Project - MassQuilts
Who documented this quilt?
Massachusetts Quilt Documentation Project, MassQuilts; New England Quilt Museum Collection
MASS-Quilts ID Number:
5614
Alternate inventory control number:
NEQM# 1983.01
Ownership of this quilt is:
Public Museum, Library or Institution
Quilt owner:
New England Quilt Museum
Quilt owner's city:
Lowell
Quilt owner's state:
Massachusetts (MA)
Quilt owner's county:
Middlesex
Quilt owner's country:
United States
Width:
92.5
Length:
72.5
Quilt's title:
Archipelago
Pattern name (maker/owner/historical):
Archipelago
Quilt top made by:
Halpern, Nancy
Quiltmaker's state:
Massachusetts (MA)
Quiltmaker's city:
Natick
Quiltmaker's country:
United States
How did owner acquire quilt?
Gift
Where the quilt was made, city:
Natick
Where the quilt was made, state:
Massachusetts (MA)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
Time period:
1976-1999
When was the quilt finished?
1983
Format:
Finished quilt
Layout:
Nontraditional or art
Fabric fibers:
Cotton
Patterns:
Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:
plain weave
Predominant colors:
Blue or Navy
Overall color scheme:
Multicolor
Quilting:
Hand quilting
Describe the quilting designs used:
free form
Quilting stitches per inch, place 1:
10-Sep
Binding and edging:
Separate binding applied
Binding; fiber:
Cotton
Binding; weave:
Plain weave
Binding; pattern:
stripe
Batting:
Cotton
Backing, number of pieces:
two pieces
Backing, fiber:
Cotton
Backing, predominant color:
Pink
Inscription, type:
Signature
Inscription, content:
quilt title
Inscription, technique:
Embroidery
Condition:
Excellent/like new
Condition, structurally sound?
This quilt is structurally sound.
Pattern name, variations and comments:
Original design
Contests entered:
Archipelago was designated one of the twentieth century's best American quilts in 1999.
Date estimated by an antique dealer, quilt historian or appraiser:
1983
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
New England Quilt Museum
Cite this Quilt
Halpern, Nanc. Archipelago. 1983. From Massachusetts Quilt Documentation Project - MassQuilts, Massachusetts Quilt Documentation Project, MassQuilts; New England Quilt Museum Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=11-37-7140. Accessed: 03/28/24
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Exhibit
Contemporary Massachusetts Quilts
Lane, Laura