QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-883

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

98.0048

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

1998:76.1

Object label:

Tile or Puzzle Appliqué Summer Spread
Made by an unidentified ladies’ group; bound but not backed or quilted
Paw Paw, Van Buren County, Michigan
Dated in the applique 1872
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#1998:76.1

Essay:

A note, dated 1929, which accompanied this piece as it was handed down within the family indicated that the Tile summer spread was made by a group of ladies who were ‘old timers’ and who all belonged to the same church in the village of Paw Paw. Each made a block “in whatever form or design they chose.” The blocks were then combined and the finished quilt was given to the writer’s mother. “She was very choice of it and never used it but always sent it to convalescents to amuse them. I was a little girl… and remember so well the many times she sent that quilt here and there.”

“Tile” quilts, sometimes also called “Puzzle” quilts, are made of randomly-shaped pieces appliquéd individually on to a square block of white foundation fabric. To make the “tile” effect, a space is left between each piece as it is appliquéd on to the background. The patches on this quilt are often simply random shapes, but one particularly creative seamstress included a coffeepot, an ox yoke, an anchor, a boot, a rifle, a fish, a patriotic shield, a heart-in-hand, and a knife, fork, and spoon. One block contains the numerals 1872 and the letters PAW followed by a hand – the second “Paw.”

Quilt's title:

Paw Paw Tile Mosaic

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Mosaic applique

Other people who worked on this quilt:

Unknown Paw Paw Michigan quilters

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Purchased the quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Paw Paw

Where the quilt was made, county:

Van Buren

Where the quilt was made, state:

Michigan (MI)

Time period:

1850-1875

When was the quilt finished?

1872

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

This is a:

Quilt top with unfinished edge

How wide is the quilt?

76"

How long is the quilt?

88"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Quilt's condition:

Poor/very worn

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

Great Lakes, Great Quilts (2001) book, page 7.

Source of the information on this quilt:

Museum employee

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

5/27/1998, Julie Silber

Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:

Feb. 27, 1929 My dear Mildred Here at last is the "Antique" - and this is why I am sending to you! It was made in Paw Paw - Mich. in 1872 -- as you will see - when you find this date and the name Paw Paw in one of the blocks. --- This village being your birthplace. I was sure you would be more interested in having this very unique piece of handiwork than any one here. The story of this quilt is that several ladies of our church here made each one a block in whatever form or design they chose. Then they were all combined to form this quilt. When it was finished it was given to my mother. She was very choice of it and never used it but always sent it to convalescents to amuse them. I was a little girl -only a little older than your little Joanna and remember so well the many times she sent that quilt here and there. Since it has belonged to me I have made frequent use of it and it shows wear. The ladies who made it were old timers in Paw Paw. The only one you even knewwas Mrs. Addie Hunt and you may not remember her, but your mother will. Her block was the one with hearts and stars. Quite a conventional design. The lovliest of all with so many things cut out and appliqued was made by Mrs. ? MacKellar (??? /Green Morrison). Joanne and Jack will have lots of fun finding funny things in this quilt and Jon will like it because it has age and will add to your growing collection. Love to you all Aunt Flora This quilt is part of a pair collected by the MSU Museum. The second quilt, 1998:72.2, is also a Tile Mosaic quilt. The second quilt was made ca. 1930.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Describe anything about the design of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:

"Tile" quilts, sometimes also called "Puzzle" quilts, are made randomly-shaped pieces of appliqued individually onto a square block of white foundation fabric. To make the "tile" effect, a space is left between each piece as it is appliqued onto the background.

Who photographed this quilt?

Mary Whalen

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum