Pieced Cotton Hexagon Medallion Quilt

Description:

Pieced Cotton Hexagon Medallion Quilt, Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, first quarter 19th century, the quilt featuring two large concentric hexagons composed of smaller linked hexagons containing a six-point star, which are also found in each corner and at the center, made of printed cotton calico fabric in shades of rust, brown, and green on a white field; the white field quilted with fine stitching and trapunto work with flowering and feathered vines and circles, enclosed in a wide rust-red floral printed chintz cotton border, white cotton backing, (minor scattered stains),100 x 90 in.R>
Provenance: Deaccessioned from the Pennsylvania Quilt and Textile Museum, Lititz, Pennsylvania.

Note: According to oral history which accompanied this quilt, Catherine Nead, born in 1793 to Daniel Nead and his wife Anna Mary (Polly) Hoefligh, probably made this quilt. In 1864 the family was said to have wrapped their valuable items in this and other family quilts to carry them to safety from fire during the Civil War when the town of Chambersburg was set fire, as documented by a letter describing the event and given to the Kittochtinny Historical Society in Chambersburg. As time went on, Vera Nead sold the quilt, which was passed down through her husband's family, at Roan's Auction in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1986. It was purchased by the son of well-known quilt collector and writer Florence Peto, later bought by Trish Herr, and subsequently sold to Stella Rubin.
Estimate $10,000-12,000

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