1725 - 1750 Scovill Family's Quilted Petticoat
1725 - 1750 Scovill Family's Quilted Petticoat
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- Description
- This yellow-gold silk quilted petticoat came from the Scovill family of Connecticut. The petticoat has a woven wool lining and a carded wool interlining. The elaborate quilting pattern included both flora and fauna. Animals and birds that include lions, horses, peacocks, snakes, boars, squirrels, roosters, a stag, a unicorn, dragons, a frog, butterflies, insects, and birds are detailed in back stitch which forms a dotted line of tiny stitches on the silk.
- Possibly the inspiration for the motifs was Thomas Boreman’s “A Description of More than 300 Animals…” originally published in 1730. The floral images seem to be used as a filler in and around the fantastic motifs creating an overall whimsical design.
- Petticoats such as this were designed to display fine quilting. With the wool lining and interlining adding warmth, they were probably much appreciated in New England winters.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- Petticoat, Quilted
- date made
- 1725 - 1750
- maker
- unknown
- place made
- United States: Connecticut
- Physical Description
- fabric, silk, wool (overall material)
- thread, silk (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 35 in x 98 in; 89 cm x 249cm
- ID Number
- TE.T18133
- catalog number
- T18133
- accession number
- 323525
- Credit Line
- Credit Line Restricted
- subject
- Quilting
- Costume
- See more items in
- Home and Community Life: Textiles
- Clothing & Accessories
- Textiles
- Quilts
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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