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Tree of Life Framed Medallion

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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