crazy quilt

nationality
American
birth-death
1829-1916
Creation date
Collection
Textiles
Materials
silk, cotton, wool, linen, pieced, embroidered
Dimensions
77 x 64 1/4 in.
Not Currently On View
Credit line
Gift of Mrs. Jaema C. Ryan
Accession number
77.363
Provenance
Victoriene Parsons Mitchell (1829-1916), Munice, Indiana; Mrs. Albert H. Greely (Tena); Mrs. Jaema C. Ryan, Indianapolis; given to Indianapolis Museum of Art (1977).
Gallery Label

Crazy quilts, which emerged after 1850, were usually composed of small, irregular-shaped fragments of silk, wool and other fabrics pieced together. The seams were then embroidered using a variety of stitches. They acquired the name "crazy quilts" because of the strong colors and busy, confusing nature of their designs, typical of Victorian taste. They were especially popular during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. The crazy quilts were not technically constructed as quilts, since the three layers were usually attached together at intervals rather than actually quilted.

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