Originally Posted by JCquilts
any way, my guess for the date of your quilt, without seeing it in person is between 1890 and 1925. Im guessing around 1920. My reasons are this.. first the black and white shirtings were made in the last quarter of the 19th century. The style as we move into the 1st quarter of the 20th century was to use the softer pallet with the bright red as the only stark or bright color in the quilt, making it almost seem out of place. If you get the book recommended, you can read about this style in there. However, you also need to check on the red as it looks like a turkey red, but turkey red didnt bleed like the red in your quilt. During WWI there was a scarcity of color fast red indicating that your red might be from that time.
Just some things to think about in your research.
This is interesting and I looked closer at the quilt to see what I could learn. First, all the reds look the same color from a distance but there are at least 3 different red fabrics in the quilt. Second, I believe at least one of the fabrics was used elsewhere before it made its way into this quilt--a couple of the red patches have a random seam across them. Third, only one of the red fabrics ran. That fabric is still looks like new bright. One of the fabrics is much more faded on some patches than others but did not run. That fabric is the one I found seams in. It also matches a picture I found on-line of how turkey red fades.
The quilt must be no older than its newest fabric (unless a few of those red pieces are patches from a later date and I don't know how you would tell that). Would it be easier to date the black and white print fabric? What about the yellow fabric of the backing? It appears they had enough yardage to make the entire back with minimal seams as one would expect it they purchased the fabric specifically to back this quilt. If it was purchased for this quilt the color choice is surprising though as the only yellow showing on the front is the binding which is the back turned to the front. There are also those blue strips on the front that go with nothing else. Maybe some that looks white now was originally a print that went with those but has faded completely to white? Is that even possible?
This piece has a random seam across it. It has faded highlights associated with turkey red.
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This shows the yellow backing. It looks brighter yellow in real life.
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This is the red that ran. Note, the quilt was wet and starting to mold when I got it and this red ran while sitting for some period of time in that condition.
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Here is a closeup of three of the black and white prints.
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Here is another black and white print.
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