QUILT INDEX RECORD
12-8-5040
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:
07.0013
If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:
2007:107.13
Object label:
Harvest Sun
Maker unknown
Arkansas
c1880
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2007:107.13
Quilt's title:
Harvest Sun
Names for quilt's pattern in common use:
Glitter Star, Rainbow Star
Brackman # or other source & #:
3778
If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?
Received as a gift
Where the quilt was made, state:
Arkansas (AR)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
Time period:
1876-1900
When was the quilt finished?
c1880
Quilt is presently used as:
Museum collection
This is a:
Finished quilt
How wide is the quilt?
63"
How long is the quilt?
76"
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Beige or Tan; Black; Brown; Navy; Red
Antique colors:
Double Pink; Lancaster Blue
Overall color scheme:
Multicolor
Quilt's condition:
Fair/worn
Damage:
Stains
Describe the quilt's layout:
Block pattern
Number of quilt blocks:
9 full, 3 half sawtooth stars. Each star has its own 1 1/2" sawtooth border
Size of quilt blocks:
15"
Arrangement of quilt blocks:
Straight
Spacing of quilt blocks:
Separated by plain sashing
Sashing width:
3 1/2"
Number of borders:
1
Describe the borders:
The top has no border. The side borders are 1 1/2", the bottom border is 2 1/2".
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Fabric styles used in the quilt top:
Mourning Prints; Solid/plain
Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:
Shirtings, ditsies
Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Piecing
Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?
no
Materials used to make the back:
Woven or homespun
Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:
3
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
How is the binding made?
Back turned to front
What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?
half inch - one inch
What kind of filling is used in the quilt?
Cotton
How thick is the quilt?
Thin (Less than 3/16?)
How are the layers held together?
Hand quilting
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:
5
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:
6
Width between quilting lines:
3/4
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
In-the-ditch; Single parallel lines
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
The Description on eBay reads: This spectacular pieced star quilt with sawtooth border throughout has been called Harvest Sun or Prairie Star pattern. It is from Arkansas c1880 and has homespun fabric on the back. (See photo) The pieces in the star are VERY SMALL. The background fabric is brown dots on white. The border is light brown/dark brown geometric print. The corners of each block are black/green print. The stars have a large variety of fabrics both prints and solids. The colors are black, browns, reds, white, and blue. Many are 1800's shirting fabrics. Note that at one end of the quilt is a half row of stars. These are a different pattern of stars with larger pieces...SIZE: 63 x 76 inches. Each block measures 14 1/2"...BORDER: The homespun fabric from the back has been brought to the front of the quilts. There iis a 6 1/2 inch border between the blocks. There is a 3 1/4" border on the sides. There is a 4 1/2" border on the end. The sawtooth is 1 1/2 inches wide...QUILTING: 7 stitches per inch counting top side only. It is quilted with white and black threads. White thread is used in the white areas and black thread on all the brown areas and stars. The borders are diagonally quilted in 1/2 inch rows. The stars are quilted in a chevron pattern. The white corners of the blocks are diagonally in both directions. The triangle areas are quilted vertically...Condition: Generally the quilt is in very good condition. However, there are a few tiny pieces on the stars that have broken down on some of the brown fabric only. The half row at the end of the quilt has several worn pieces and some wear on the sawtooth pieces. There is another quilt beneath this quilt. It is things such as this that make a quilt this old so special and unique. There seems to be some general areas of light brown staining noticable on some of the white areas. I have described several age related problems with this quilt, however, this quilt is so visually outstanding that it would be a premier quilt for any serious collectoer. Buyer to pay shipping and insurance costs. Please email with any questions.
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)
Quilt owner's country:
United States
How was this quilt acquired?
Gift
Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:
This quilt was donated to the MSU Museum by Kitty Clark Cole. Kitty purchased this on eBay on 4/27/1999.
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Who photographed this quilt?
Pearl Yee Wong
Copyright holder:
MSU Board of Trustees
Cite this Quilt
Harvest Sun. c1880. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-5040. Accessed: 03/28/24
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Gallery
Understanding Quilt-Specific Colors: L...
Sikarskie, Amanda Grace
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Collection
Kitty Clark Cole Quilt Collection
Worrall, Mary