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1840 - 1860 Catherine Byer's Pieced and Appliqued Quilt

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Byers, Catherine
Description
A stamped inscription of leaves and a bird frame the names: “Eby Byers & Catherine Byers” and the place, “Chambersburg.” Below Chambersburg is noted "1837," in a penned ink inscription ---possibly a later addition? Did Catherine make this quilt?
Catherine Byers, born in 1805, was the daughter of Frederick Byers and Anna Eby of Pennsylvania. Catherine married James Crawford (1799-1872) in 1826. They raised their children and lived on the family homestead in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Catherine died in 1892. Both came from families who were early settlers of Pennsylvania, some of whom had fought in the Revolutionary War.
Thirty-six pieced blocks, each with a center square of dark blue printed cotton and three appliquéd leaves at each corner create a unique pattern. The central focus is the 9 ¾-inch-block with the inked drawing and inscription. The quilt is framed by a 6-inch border and is quilted at 10 stitches per inch. As no information was included with the quilt, it is difficult to know who made the quilt and the significance of the date.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. Grace Fox
1840-1860
ID Number
1980.0253.01
catalog number
1980.0253.01
accession number
1980.0253
Object Name
quilt
Physical Description
fabric, cotton (overall material)
thread, cotton (overall material)
filling, cotton (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 95 in x 93 in; 240 cm x 236 cm
place made
United States: Pennsylvania, Chambersburg
See more items in
Home and Community Life: Textiles
Textiles
Domestic Furnishings
Quilts
National Museum of American History
Subject
Quilting
Record ID
nmah_556172
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a3-ce53-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Related Content

  • National Quilt Collection

    American History Museum
  • National Quilt Collection

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  • National Quilt Collection

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