Quilt, applique
1851 to 1875
Dimensions
Original IAD Object: 86" long; 82" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.388
Art Historical Context
Lillian Causey's *Quilt, applique*, created between 1851 and 1875, exemplifies the of mid-19th-century American craft. Measuring an impressive 86 inches long by 82 inches wide, this substantial bed quilt showcases the appliqué technique, where fabric motifs are cut and meticulously sewn onto a foundation cloth to form decorative patterns. Though the specific medium details are undocumented, appliqué quilts like this were prized for their durability and visual storytelling, often featuring floral, geometric, or symbolic designs born from everyday materials. Documented through the Index of Amer...
About the Artist
Lillian Causey
Lillian Causey (1889–1949) was an American artist best known for her meticulous watercolor and graphite renderings of everyday American folk objects, created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Active primarily between 1935 and 1942, Causey contributed hundreds of detailed illustrations to this ambitious New Deal initi...