Probably made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Ardis and Robert James Collection, 1997.007.0777

The finely wrought tulips, hearts and curlicues featured in this quilt were common motifs found in Pennsylvania Dutch folk art. Also common is the frequent use of red and green. This quilt, which was probably made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, by the Lehman family, uses scherenschnitte, which translates from German to “scissor cuts.”

“Scherenschnitte, or fold-and-cut, designs were common among 19th-century Pennsylvanians of German descent. It is possible that these quilts migrated to the Hawaiian Islands with missionaries and other settlers, providing an inspiration for the emblematic Hawaiian appliqué quilt.”

- World Quilts: The American Story

We featured Beauty of Hiro Bay, a Hawaiian appliqué, as our Quilt of the Month last December. View it here to compare the two quilts for yourself.