Unfinished Cigar or Tobacco Rectangles Quilt
1900/10
Medium
Forty-two rectangles of cotton, plain weave; roller printed, fulled; joined by machine stitching
Dimensions
167.8 × 91.5 cm (66 × 36 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
120458
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of early 20th-century American art with the *Unfinished Cigar or Rectangles Quilt*, a textile from around 1900–1910 held in the Art Institute of Chicago's Textiles. Measuring 167.8 × 91.5 cm (66 × 36 in.), this piece comprises forty-two rectangles of plain-weave cotton, roller-printed with vibrant patterns likely sourced from cigar or tobacco packaging wrappers—a clever act of recycling common in resourceful households of the era. Crafted by an unknown maker, the quilt showcases the blend of industrial innovation and handmade tradition. The fabrics were fulled (slightly fe...
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...