1907 Georgia State Fair Blue Ribbon Quilt

Object Details

Dement, Amanda Bowers

Description: Quilt made, according to the donor, by Amanda Bowers Dement; it won a blue ribbon at the 1907 Georgia State Fair in Atlanta. An unusual example of the stereotyping imagery common at the time, used both to demean African Americans, and to celebrate the mythic world of the antebellum South.; The quilt depicts a black man, holding a knife and a slice of watermelon, standing in the center of a watermelon patch surrounded by a white fence which forms the outer border of the quilt.; The quilt is machine-appliqued and machine-joined in 9 large sections which were then joined before embroidery was added. Gray cotton lining. No filling; the 9 sections of front are appliqued and quilted through a layer of cotton cloth. Embroidery stitches: Stem, Straight. Quilting pattern: background quilting (crossing lines which form uneven diamonds) machine-stitched on each of the 9 sections. Watermelons machine-quilted, 16 stitches/inch. Lining not quilted; held to quilt with tacking stitches in only about 20 places. No binding; front and lining turned in and held by Herringbone stitch.; [Please note: NMAH curators are actively researching this quilt, and are eager to hear from members of the public who have information to share.]
Location: Currently not on view

ca. 1907

Physical Description: thread, cotton (overall material); fabric, cotton (overall material)
Measurements: overall:;

National Museum of American History

GUID (Link to Original Record): https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a3-c0df-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa