QUILT INDEX RECORD
12-8-5248
Who documented this quilt?
Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Cuesta Benberry Collection
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Michigan State University Museum
Michigan Quilt Project Number:
08.0069
If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:
2008:119.9
Object label:
Pomegranate
Mary Stanford
Bowling Green, Missouri
1876
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2008:119.9
Essay:
Mary, an African American quiltmaker, made this for her sister Hattie Dorsey Moore in 1876.
By Mary Worrall, from the exhibit Unpacking Collections: the Legacy of Cuesta Benberry, An African American Quilt Scholar.
Quilt's title:
Pomegranate
Names for quilt's pattern in common use:
Love Apple
When was the form filled out?
4/22/08
Quilt top made by:
Stanford, Mary
Quilted by:
Stanford, Mary
If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?
Received as a gift
Where the quilt was made, city:
Bowling Green
Where the quilt was made, state:
Missouri (MO)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
Time period:
1876-1900
When was the quilt finished?
c1876
Quilt is presently used as:
Museum collection
Quiltmaker's gender:
Female
Quiltmaker's city:
Bowling Green
Quiltmaker's state:
Missouri (MO)
Quiltmaker's country:
United States
Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:
African American
Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:
African American
This is a:
Finished quilt
How wide is the quilt?
73"
How long is the quilt?
88"
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Cream; Green; Red
Antique colors:
Turkey Red
Quilt's condition:
Good/moderate use
Describe the damage:
There are some water or rust stains to note but these do not detract from the overall appearance of the quilt. Quilt has been laundered.
Type of inscription:
Message
What is inscribed on the quilt?
This quilt was made by Mary Stanford for her sister Hattie Dorsey Moore A.D. 1876
Method used to make the inscription:
Attached label; Ink
Describe the quilt's layout:
Block pattern
Number of quilt blocks:
18
Size of quilt blocks:
14" x 14"
Arrangement of quilt blocks:
On point or rotated on 45 degrees
Spacing of quilt blocks:
Side by side
Describe the borders:
7" border with 1" undulating vine and 2" appliqued buds.
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:
Machine Piecing
Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Applique
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
What color is the back of the quilt?
White
Describe the back:
Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain
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)?
less than a half inch
What kind of filling is used in the quilt?
Cotton
How are the layers held together?
Hand quilting
Color of thread used in the quilting:
white
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:
8
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:
9
Width between quilting lines:
1/4"
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
Double parallel lines
Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:
Feathering
Source of the information on this quilt:
MSU 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?
Purchase
Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:
This quilt was collected by Cuesta Benberry to further her research on quiltmaking and/or African American quiltmaking. Her son donated the collection to the Michigan State University Museum when she passed away in 2007.
Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:
Cuesta says, "Made by an African American quiltmaker in Bowling Green, Missouri area north of central Missouri in 1876. There is attached to the lining of the quilt a sewn on tag that identifies for whom the quit was made and the date."
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?
Made entire quilt
Who photographed this quilt?
Pearl Yee Wong
Copyright holder:
MSU Board of Trustees
Cite this Quilt
Stanford, Mar. Pomegranate. c1876. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Cuesta Benberry Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-5248. Accessed: 03/28/24
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Michigan State University Museum