QUILT INDEX RECORD
16-12-61
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
DAR Museum
Who documented this quilt?
DAR Museum; Permanent Collection
DAR Number:
2009.55
This is a:
Finished quilt
Quilt's title:
Tree of Life Framed Medallion
How wide is the quilt?
86 inches
How long is the quilt?
90 inches
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Yellow; Brown; Cream; Blue
Overall color scheme:
Multicolor
Quilt's condition:
Poor/very worn
Damage:
Disintegration of fabric; Pencil or pen or marking lines; Stains; Tears or holes
Repairs:
Stabilized with netting
Time period:
1800-1849
Describe the quilt's layout:
Medallion or framed center
Number of quilt blocks:
64
Size of quilt blocks:
6 1/2" x 6"
Arrangement of quilt blocks:
Straight
Spacing of quilt blocks:
Separated by plain sashing
Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:
1
What is the shape of the quilt blocks?
Squares
Medallion size:
35" x 35"
Sashing width:
varies
Number of borders:
5
Describe the borders:
Center is surrounded by 1 1/2" border of blue print fabric. Next border 1 1/2" brown stripe fabric, next border of pieced blocks 6"wide, next border of 1 1/2" wide brown/yellow print, next of more pieced blocks, outer border of a different blue print fabric 3" top and bottom, 2" long sides.
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Fabric types used to make the quilt top:
Chintz
Fabric styles used in the quilt top:
Paisley; Striped; Print; Plaid; Solid/plain; Floral; Geometric
Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Piecing
Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:
Hand Applique; Blanket, buttonhole, or other decorative applique stitch
Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:
Embroidery
Embellishments used:
Cotton thread
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
What color is the back of the quilt?
Cream
Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:
4
Width of pieces on the back:
8 1/2", 39 1/2", 30 1/4", 13 3/4"
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; Front turned to back
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 thick is the quilt?
Thin (Less than 3/16?)
How are the layers held together?
Hand quilting
Thread type used for the quilting:
cotton
Color of thread used in the quilting:
cream, blue, brown
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:
6
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:
11
Width between quilting lines:
1"
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
Outline; Single parallel lines
Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:
Floral; Vines
Quilting designs used, background fills:
Parallel lines
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
Center medallion of cut chintz applique attached with button hole stitch. Scalloped arcs of two different fabrics are appliqued in outer medallion square. Borders of pieced 8 point stars separated by sashing.
Quilt top made by:
Lester, Mary Minor Simms
Quilted by:
Lester, Mry Minor Simms
Where the quilt was made, country:
USA
Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:
Quilt is attributed to Mary Minor Lester, [nee Simms] born Oct. 1, 1800 in Virginia. The family later moved to South Carolina and she lived in Georgia after her marriage to Richard Henry Lester [born Feb. 11, 1800, died 1836] on Jan. 4, 1820. The exact location the quilt was made is uncertain.
Ownership of this quilt is:
Public- DAR Museum
Quilt owner's name:
DAR Museum
Quilt owner's city:
Washington, DC
Quilt owner's state:
Washington D.C.
Quilt owner's country:
United States
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
DAR Museum
Cite this Quilt
Lester, Mary Minor Simm. Tree of Life Framed Medallion. 1800-1849. From DAR Museum, DAR Museum; Permanent Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=16-12-61. Accessed: 03/29/24