"Sawtooth" or "Jagged Square" Quilt
c. 1890
Medium
Cotton, plain weaves; pieced; appliquéd; quilted; backed with cotton, plain weave; printed; edged with cotton plain weave
Dimensions
214.6 × 217.8 cm (84 1/2 × 85 3/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
202546
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 19th-century domestic artistry with the "Sawtooth" or "Jagged Square" Quilt crafted around 1890 by an unknown maker. This impressive textile measures 214.6 × 217.8 cm (84½ × 85¾ in.), large enough to cover a bed and warm a family through harsh winters. Made entirely from cotton plain weaves, it showcases the resourcefulness of everyday fabric scraps transformed into a bold geometric design, evoking jagged peaks or dynamic squares that play with light and shadow. The quilt's creation highlights masterful techniques central to quiltmaking: piecing, where small fabric patc...
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...