A “Pennsylvania Dutch Tulip” quilt was likely made by several pairs of very skillful hands over a period of about seventy-five years. We don't have any provenance on the quilt but the applique pattern and colors, however, suggest that it was made in Pennsylvania at the end of the 19th century. The red and yellow applique tulips are a common motif in what was referred to as Pennsylvania Dutch folk art.

The tulip blocks on this quilt are older than the setting blocks, probably c.1875-1900. The Art Deco style quilting pattern and scalloped border were popular in the 1930s, while the binding fabric is commonly known as "cheddar," for obvious reasons. The correct name of the dye is chrome or antimony orange after the two dyes used to produce it. A close examination reveals traces of the pencil marks drawn as a guide for the quilting stitches.

Techniques: Hand appliques and quilted
Culture: American
Geographic Location: North and Central America - United States
Credit Line: Museum purchase