Star quilt

United States

late 1800s

Cotton, pieced and quilted

Minneapolis Institute of Art

A star quilt with a central circular pattern and surrounding star motifs, bordered by red and blue fabric. Pieced stars were popular in the United States from the 1840s to 1875, perhaps owing to the influence of kaleidoscopes. First manufactured in 1816, kaleidoscopes were perfected in the following decades. For this quilt, scores of red, white, and blue diamond-shaped fabric pieces were painstakingly stitched together. The alternating bands of color create a pulsating effect, like a glowing sun. Signs of heavy washing tell us this quilt functioned as a bedcover. Though delicately constructed, it was still expected to withstand the rigors of daily use. Gallery Not on View Gift of Richard and Roberta Simmons