1847 Mary Hill's Album Quilt
- Description
- The large central square contains the inscription: “Presented to Mrs. Mary B. Hill as an expression of esteem by the Ladies of Maltaville.” Mary B. Hill was the wife of Reverend William Hill (1814-1851) of the Presbyterian-Congregational Church of Maltaville, New York. She was born November 13, 1816, to Benton (1786-?) and Elizabeth Barnard in Litchfield, Connecticut. She married on July 13, 1836 and they had one son, Roland. Mary died May 5, 1862, in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1847, women in the church made, joined, lined, and quilted sixty blocks, in addition to the dedicatory center block, to create this example of an album quilt.
- Album quilt blocks often contain name, date, or place, and sometimes a poem or verse of special meaning. Almira E. Olmstead added this to her block:
- The Tulip and the Butterfly
- Appear in gayer coats than I
- Let me be dressed fine as I will
- Flies, worms, and flowers, exceed me still.
- The lines are from “Against Pride in Clothes,” published in 1720 by Isaac Watts (1674–1748), a well-known English hymn writer whose verse is often found on quilts of the period.
- The appliquéd blocks are embellished with embroidered details in addition to the inked inscriptions. Flowers, leaves, hearts, stars, crescents, double ovals around the signatures, and other motifs are found in the quilting. As a token of appreciation, this quilt displays the fine quilting skills of the “Ladies of Maltaville.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- quilt
- Object Type
- quilts
- Date made
- 1847
- quilter
- Ladies of the Presbyterian Church
- Physical Description
- fabric, cotton (overall material)
- thread, cotton, silk (overall material)
- filling, cotton (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 92 1/4 in x 91 1/4 in; 234.315 cm x 231.775 cm
- place made
- United States: New York, Maltaville
- ID Number
- TE*T06717
- catalog number
- T06717.000
- accession number
- 109459
- subject
- Quilting
- Textiles
- Church
- Religion
- Quilts
- Artifact Walls exhibit
- See more items in
- Home and Community Life: Textiles
- Artifact Walls exhibit
- Quilts
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mrs. Isaac Carrington Morton
- Additional Media
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