QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-6626

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:

85.0977

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

1466.1

Object label:

Wholecloth Labor Comforter
Maker unknown
Provenance unknown
c1880
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#1466.1

Essay:

From American Toile: Four Centuries of Sensational Scenic Fabrics and Wallpaper, page 154, by Michele Palmer, it is called "Capital and Labor in Accord" by Cocheco Manuf., Cotton, 16" repeat. 1886 original roller print. "This toile was produced as propaganda during a period of strikes and labor unrest, factors that contributed to the Colonial Revival. It sought to soothe the American worker with images of a happy working life. The legends below each vignette read 'Labor is Honorable,' 'Honor to the Iron Worker', 'After Work the Happy Home and 'The Two Powers in Accord.'"

Quilt's title:

Whole Cloth Labor Comforter

Subject of the quilt:

Labor and home vignettes.

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Whole cloth comforter

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

Received as a gift

Time period:

1876-1900

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

82

How long is the quilt?

86

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Brown

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Describe the quilt's layout:

Wholecloth

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

7 1/2" on one side.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

10

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cannot tell

How are the layers held together?

Tied or tufted

Can you see any knots on the front or back of the quilt?

yes

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

Front fabric features four repeated vignettes: Factory scene, titled "Labor is Honorable"; Laborer and manager shaking hands, titled "The Two Powers in Accord"; Family eating dinner, titled " After Work, the Happy Home"; and Worker seated on anvil, looking at the factory, titled "Honor to the Iron Worker".

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt owner

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

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

The comforter was donated to the Michigan State University Museum by Mrs. Carl Bradford in 1960.

Details

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Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Keva

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees