Quilt Top
1900/20
Medium
Cotton, plain weave; engraved-roller printed; fulled; pieced with cotton, machine stitching; embroidered with cotton in long-armed cross stitches
Dimensions
183 × 213 cm (72 × 83 1/2 in.); Flags approximately: 13.9 × 21.6 cm (5 1/2 × 8 1/2 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
121949
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This quilt top is made from fabric premiums, rectangles of printed cotton fabric often given away by tobacco companies. The pieces of fabric either came with a purchase or could be redeemed with coupons collected from packages. Companies often designed their premiums in sets, such as the flags, blankets, and carpets used here, to incentivize consumption and encourage brand loyalty. In the early 20th century, magazines and tobacco companies encouraged women to collect these premiums and transform...
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...