QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5275

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Cuesta Benberry Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

08.0093

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

2008:119.33

Object label:

Vase of Flowers
Viola Canady
Washington, D.C.
1983
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2008:119.33

Essay:

This wall hanging is depicts a vase of flowers. It is done in the stained glass style where each applique piece is secured with a strip of black bias binding 1/2" wide. This is a technique for which Viola was well known. There is a 2 1/4" solid black border. The edges are turned front to back . It is not quilted.

Viola Canady founded a group called "Daughters of Darcus", an African American quilting group and a division of the National Quilting Association. Cuesta Benberry was made an honorary member of the Daughters of Darcus by Viola Canady.

Quilt's title:

Flower Vase

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Stained glass

When was the form filled out?

4/22/08

Quilt top made by:

Canady, Viola

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

Received as a gift

Where the quilt was made, state:

Washington D.C.

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt finished?

1983

Why was the quilt made?

Gift or presentation

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's state:

Washington D.C.

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

African American

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?

Viola Canady founded a group called "Daughters of Darcus", an African American quilting group and a division of the National Quilting Association.

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

24"

How long is the quilt?

36 1/2"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Black; Brown; Gold; Pink; Purple; Red

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Describe the damage:

One spot on back

Type of inscription:

Signature; Date

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Vi Canady

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1983

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Location of inscription:

on back

Describe the quilt's layout:

Pictorial

Number of quilt blocks:

1

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

2 1/4"

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Black; Cream

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

4

Describe the back:

Solid/plain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Front turned to back

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cannot tell

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

Quilt owner Cuesta Benberry was made an honorary member of the Daughters of Darcus by Viiola Canady.

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.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?

Made entire quilt

Describe any favorite patterns, tools, etc. used by the quiltmaker:

Viola was known for her Stained Glass technique.

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees