Maker Unidentified 
Made in the United States 
1860-1880 
Cotton; Hand pieced and appliquéd, hand quilted
Gift of Joanna S. Rose, IQM 2022.001.0098

The printed Turkey red fabric of this quilt helps to date it. It was a popular choice for quiltmakers of the mid-nineteenth century, prior to the development of synthetic red dyes. A dye process known as discharge printing created the tiny yellow floral design set against the red ground. First, the fabric is dyed red. Next, a discharge paste, or bleach, is applied – often in a specific small-scale design – removing the red color. A second color is either included in the discharge paste, simultaneously filling the bleached areas, or added in a separate print process.

The elaborate figural quilting on this piece, which changes from element to element, is also a tool used to help date the quilt. Quilts made after this period are often quilted in linear patterns that follow the pieced design.