QUILT INDEX RECORD
12-8-9960
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:
01.0010
If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:
2001:158.10
Object label:
Mosaic Applique
Maker unknown
Provenance unknown
c1930
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2001:158.10
Essay:
The free-style design of this quilt consists primarily of multicolored Masonic symbols appliquéd on a white background. Symbols include a square and compass with the letter "G", a scythe, Jacob's Ladder, and a pot of incense.
The Free and Accepted Masons or Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (generally referred to as Masons or Freemasons) are a fraternal organization whose origins date to the early 1700s. Little is known about the origins of this quilt, but it serves as a unique piece of material culture related to this fraternal organization.
By Mary Worrall, excerpted from American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum.
Quilt's title:
Masonic Appliqué
Owner's name for the quilt:
Masonic Symbol Appliqué
Subject of the quilt:
Masonic symbols
Time period:
1930-1949
Quilt is presently used as:
Museum collection
This is a:
Finished quilt
How wide is the quilt?
67
How long is the quilt?
83 1/4
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Gold; Green; Lavender; Pink; Purple; Red; Yellow
Antique colors:
Cheddar Orange or Antimony or Chrome Orange
Overall color scheme:
Multicolor
Quilt's condition:
Fair/worn
Describe the damage:
There is a yellowish, lime green stain around some of the green applique due to dye migration. Some of this has come through the back of the quilt.
Describe the quilt's layout:
Pictorial
Describe the quilt setting:
Large folk style appliques, applied over the surface of a cream whole cloth.
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Fabric styles used in the quilt top:
Solid/plain
Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?
no
Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Applique
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
Describe the back:
Same fabric used throughout
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
Fabric structure of the binding:
Plain weave
How is the binding made?
Straight grain
What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?
less than a half inch
How wide is the binding (measure on the top only)?
1/4
What kind of filling is used in the quilt?
Blanket or flannel
How thick is the quilt?
Thin (Less than 3/16?)
How are the layers held together?
Hand quilting
Color of thread used in the quilting:
white
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:
6
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:
7
Can you see any knots on the front or back of the quilt?
no
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
Single parallel lines
Describe the quilting designs used:
Additional quilting in some of the appliques, such as circles and geometric shapes.
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
The quilt resembles a mosaic tile style applique with the appliqued pieces quite large. Kitty Clark Cole purchased this quilt from eBay, the seller was in California. The applique designs are of Masonic symbols including a square and compass with the letter "G" a scythe, Jacob's Ladder and a pot of incense.
Source of the information on this quilt:
Kitty Clark Cole, donor and museum employee
Ownership of this quilt is:
Public- Michigan State University Museum
Quilt owner's name:
Michigan State University Museum
How was this quilt acquired?
Gift
Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:
Kitty Clark Cole purchased this quilt from eBay, the seller was in California. She donated it to the Michigan State University Museum.
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
Michigan State University Museum
Cite this Quilt
Masonic Appliqué. 1930-1949. 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=12-8-9960. Accessed: 04/26/24
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