Pattern Name: Old Maid's Puzzle
Age: 1880s - 1900
Quilting: hand pieced and hand quilted in a utility style
Material: BEAUTIFUL indigo calico with wax resist prints and mourning fabrics, home dyed madder red sash and block; plaid shirting fabrics with cotton canvas backing
Measurements: 82x74
 
Heritage: This quilt was found in Tennessee and is just wonderful!  It is a treasure trove of early indigo calicos, plaids, and prints.  The collection of fabrics is truly stunning.  The large pattern is done epertly and the combination of the smaller blocks to create larger blocks is quite striking.  The sash and block done in a fugitive madder red might be my favorite part.  It plays nicely against the blue, grey, and black blocks.  The binding is a front to back binding with a machine stitch, which was not uncommon for the time period.  The batting is a thin cotton batting.  Overall a wonderful collector's piece!  Presents beautifully!
 
Condition: Overall the piece is in good condition for its age.  There is little wear and very few stains, but there are spots of fading in sash and block backing.  There is very little wear, but the edging is not precise.  The quilting itself is good, but not expert.  It seems as though more attention was paid to the piecing of the quilt, which is quite excellent.  There are normal signs of wear of a quilt this age, but overall nothign major to note. Overall, the quilt is strong, sturdy and really a stunner of a piece.  This would not be a quilt to wash, but to leave outside in the sun (under a clean white sheet) for a few warm, sunny days.  This is the traditional cleaning method for these types of quilts and would be appropriate here.