"Nine Patch" Quilt
c. 1815
Medium
Cotton, various plain weaves; block-printed and roller-printed; pieced; lined with cotton, various plain weaves; block-printed; pieced; quilted
Dimensions
218.3 × 215.3 cm (85 15/16 × 84 3/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
202543
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The delicate floral English printed cottons in this bedcover imitate popular block-printed textiles of similar design exported from India. The costly cottons used to create this design date to around 1790. Brown and black fabrics were particularly desirable during this period, as they hid staining.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...