BACK TO QUILTS

Tree of Life (Palampore)

CITE THIS QUILT

img
quilt

QUILT INDEX RECORD

20-16-2273

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives

Who documented this quilt?

The Heritage Quilt Project of New Jersey, Inc.; Drake House Museum Collection

The Heritage Quilt Project of New Jersey Documentation Number:

64-001-04

Person filling out this form is:

Other

Source of the information on this quilt:

museum representative

When was the form filled out?

09/27/1991

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Tree of Life (Palampore)

How wide is the quilt?

100 inches

How long is the quilt?

106 1/2 inches

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Blue or Navy; Pink

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

Damage:

Disintegration of fabric; Stains

Describe the repairs:

some repair to stabilize

Describe where the inscription was found:

May have HQPNJ label on back

Time period:

Pre-1799

Date estimated by an antique dealer, quilt historian or appraiser:

attributed to 1777

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Hart, Natalie S.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

one

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Squares

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Floral

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?

no

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Description of the back:

coarsely woven cotton

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout

How is the binding made?

Woven tape

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

No filling

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

very fine

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Clamshell; Grid/crosshatch

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

Rated 5 (outstanding) on HQPNJ's scale for visual effect. The central motif was cut from a single printed textile and stitched to the background fabric. Additional branches were expertly added to give the design needed width. Free form leaves were appliqued in the corners above the tree. The extremely fine quilting includes crosshatching and tiny clamshells the size of the end of a finger. Free formed shaped leaves appliqued in corners above trees.

Quilt top made by:

Unknown, quilter

Quilted by:

unknown, quilter

Where the quilt was made, state:

New Jersey (NJ)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

Quilt made by daughter of John Hart. Hart family was from Hopewell, New Jersey. Hart was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence, at age 65. Hart was a farmer with 13 children. He lived in caves when British invaded. The British raided his farm and slaughtered his cattle. He died in 1779.

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Unknown

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

This quilt appears in the book New Jersey Quilts: 1777 to 1950 on page 57.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public

Quilt owner's name:

Drake House Museum

Quilt owner's city:

Plainfield

Quilt owner's county:

Union

Quilt owner's state:

New Jersey (NJ)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Who photographed this quilt?

Barbara Schaffer

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

The Heritage Quilt Project of New Jersey, Inc.

Details

  • img

Cite this Quilt

Unknown, quilte. Tree of Life (Palampore). Pre-1799. From Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives, The Heritage Quilt Project of New Jersey, Inc.; Drake House Museum Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=20-16-2273. Accessed: 03/29/24