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Single Irish Chain

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QUILT INDEX RECORD

23-19-277

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

University of Rhode Island

Who documented this quilt?

Rhode Island Quilt Documentation Project; Rhode Island Historical Society Collection

Rhode Island Quilt Documentation Project Number:

502

Alternate inventory control number:

RIHS 1958.21.1

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt owner; Quilt collector

When was the form filled out?

04/05/1993

Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:

Quilt owner; Quilt collector

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

Other

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

Rhode Island Historical Society provided information given to them by the donor.

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Single Irish Chain

How wide is the quilt?

147 inches

How long is the quilt?

94 inches

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

T-cutout

What color is the quilt?

Red; Brown; Blue or Navy

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

Damage:

Stains

Time period:

1800-1849

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1842-1846

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

1800-1825

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

72

Size of quilt blocks:

8 1/2-9 inches x 8 1/2-9 inches

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

On point or rotated on 45 degrees

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Alternating with plain squares; Side by side

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

1

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Squares

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

Plain brown border on three sides with corner cut out for four-poster bed. 16 5/8 inches wide on the sides and 21 3/4 inches wide on the bottom.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Wool

Fabric types used to make the quilt top:

Glazed

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Calamanco

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

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

no

Materials used to make the back:

Linen; Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

White

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

2

Describe the back:

Hand sewn

How is the binding made?

Edges turned in/ no separate binding

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Thread type used for the quilting:

Single

Color of thread used in the quilting:

White, Blue, & Brown

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

6 per inch

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Other; All-over-design

Describe the quilting designs used:

Concentric Cirlces

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

Not only are the corners in a T-cut out design, but the corners of the central part of the quilt have been cut into to increase the separation.

Quilt top made by:

Staples, Lavina Leavitt

Quilted by:

Staples, Lavina Leavitt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Auburn

Where the quilt was made, state:

Maine (ME)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Other

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

Donated to the Rhode Island Historical Society in 1958 by Sarah Staples, the quiltmaker's granddaughter.

Why was the quilt made?

Unknown

The quilt was made to be used for:

Unknown

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Where did the maker get their materials?

Unknown

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Public domain/traditional pattern

Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on the quilt?

Public domain

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Quilt owner's name:

Rhode Island Historical Society

Quilt owner's city:

Providence

Quilt owner's state:

Rhode Island (RI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Leavitt

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

United States

Who photographed this quilt?

RIQDP

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Linda Welters

Cite this Quilt

Staples, Lavina Leavit. Single Irish Chain. 1800-1849. From University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Quilt Documentation Project; Rhode Island Historical Society Collection. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=23-19-277. Accessed: 03/28/24