quiltersmuse.com Blog

Within a day of posting information about the “Aunt Jemima” quilt shown on this blog a few days ago, I received word from several individuals about the “Aunt Jemima” quilt owned by the Chicago Institute of Art and made in the 1940s.

My description of the quilt is as follows:

“Aunt Jemima” is wearing a yellow bandanna and is smiling. The print fabric, which may be Feedsack cloth, repeats over the surface of the quilt. This quilt has more images of “Aunt Jemima” than the one previously shown.

The quilt blocks are set on point. The alternate blocks are “Nine Patch” units that are offered in polychromatic hues for a scrap bag effect. They appear to be mostly cotton print fabrics, or squares that “read” as solids, from a distance, although there may be some monochromatic surface designs, upon closer inspection.

Filling triangles, in solid Red, grace the perimeter to create straight edges for the center portion of the quilt. On the top and bottom edges, a border of the same Red color has been added before the quilter “framed the quilt” with a narrow White border and then added the final touch of a Black border.

This quilt appears to be heavily-quilted with purposeful lines that clearly would have taken the quilter a long time to (hand?) quilt.

The quilt has been on exhibit, and is published in Recycled and Re-Seen: Folk Art from the Global Scrap Heap, Charlene Cerny and Suzanne Seriff, editors, (New York: Harry N. Abrams. Inc. 1996).

Object information as to type of weaves in the fabrics used is available at the Chicago Art Institute’s website.

Thank you to those who brought this quilt to my attention. The quilt was the gift of Shelly Zegart.

Patricia Cummings, quilt historian, independent scholar, and member of the American Quilt Study Group

Yesterday, as I was standing in line at the post office, waiting to part with some cold cash, the total amount owed by the man in front of me was $54.40. He said to the postal clerk, “54.40 or Fight?” Confused, the clerk had never heard the historical term “54-40.” The customer went into a detailed explanation about the term’s connection to disputed land ownership in the Oregon County/Columbia District, with both the United States and the British having had an interest in claiming the land that reached from the 42N to the 54 40 N parallel. To read the details for yourself, please visit Wikipedia.

I spoke up and stated that “54-40 or Fight” is a name for an historically-based, quilt block. He said, “a WHAT?” I replied “a quilt block.” I’m sure I lost him.

This photo, taken by me in May 1994, with a Polaroid camera, shows two blocks on the right that are of that same pattern. The other two blocks are “Ohio Star.” The sashings is a Hoffman print, I believe, of hot air balloons. The quilt measures 37 1/2″ square and was a gift to my sister. The name of it is “Balloons for Barb.” I took the photo so that I would have a memory of the quilt, as she lives clear across the country and I knew I would never see it again.

I made a single “54-40 or Fight” block in red, white, and blue, to illustrate an article for The Quilter magazine. Quilt blocks that have associations or greater meanings are very appealing. They are like mini-recordings of historical moments.

Have a great Wednesday!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications – The front page has a photo of an unidentified quilt block of grapes and leaves. Have you seen this before?