Double Wedding Ring Quilt1930–194084 × 66 1/2"Cotton, wool, linen, and rayonGift of Cyril Irwin Nelson in memory of his grandparents Guerdon Stearns and Elinor Irwin (Chase) Holden, and in honor of his parents, Cyril Arthur and Elise Macy Nelson1982.22.30Applied straight-grain binding seamed to top. Diamond quilting overall.152424303Mrs. Andy G. BylerTextilesCopyright for this work is under review. AmishAtlanticAtlanticUnited StatesPennsylvaniaTextilesAtlanticThis quilt is a good example of how the insulated Amish community nevertheless borrowed ideas and quilt patterns from their "English" neighbors. The pattern is a traditional double wedding ring quilt from the 1920s, but the colors unmistakeably identify it as Amish. The design antecedents date back to at least the 4th century, but it was not until the twentieth century that the design became popular in this textile medium. Known as a rainbow in the late 19th century, by the 1920s the design was being offered commercially by publications such as CAPPER"S WEEKLY and by the 1940s special categories including this pattern were being offered by state fairs. This quilt was purchased directly from the maker and her husband.AMISH QUILTThe earliest Amish quiltmakers in Pennsylvania eschewed colors, fabrics, and pieced patterns that might be construed as fashionable—and hence both prideful and ephemeral. Instead they favored an atemporal, "other" approach to quiltmaking, devising large-scale, purely geometric designs using color-saturated woolens to produce quilts that were at once innovative and timeless. As the Amish community migrated into the Midwest, many of these self-imposed restrictions were relaxed, and their quilts reflected a closer analog to current trends. By the time this quilt was made, even Amish quiltmakers in Pennsylvania had relented to the extent that their quilts sometimes incorporated smaller pieces and current patterns, such as Double Wedding Ring. This example, however, is still distinctively Amish in the choice of jewel-like colors on a black background, as opposed to the light pastel cottons in vogue at the time.
Stacy C. Hollander, "Double Wedding Ring Quilt," exhibition label for ALSO ON VIEW: Selections from the Collection. Stacy C. Hollander, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2014. Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information. To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org 19301940 1982 22 3 This quilt is a good example of how the insulated Amish community nevertheless borrowed ideas and quilt patterns from their "English" neighbors. The pattern is a traditional double wedding ring quilt from the 1920s, but the colors unmistakeably identify it as Amish. The design antecedents date back to at least the 4th century, but it was not until the twentieth century that the design became popular in this textile medium. Known as a rainbow in the late 19th century, by the 1920s the design was being offered commercially by publications such as CAPPER"S WEEKLY and by the 1940s special categories including this pattern were being offered by state fairs. This quilt was purchased directly from the maker and her husband.AMISH QUILTThe earliest Amish quiltmakers in Pennsylvania eschewed colors, fabrics, and pieced patterns that might be construed as fashionable—and hence both prideful and ephemeral. Instead they favored an atemporal, "other" approach to quiltmaking, devising large-scale, purely geometric designs using color-saturated woolens to produce quilts that were at once innovative and timeless. As the Amish community migrated into the Midwest, many of these self-imposed restrictions were relaxed, and their quilts reflected a closer analog to current trends. By the time this quilt was made, even Amish quiltmakers in Pennsylvania had relented to the extent that their quilts sometimes incorporated smaller pieces and current patterns, such as Double Wedding Ring. This example, however, is still distinctively Amish in the choice of jewel-like colors on a black background, as opposed to the light pastel cottons in vogue at the time.
Stacy C. Hollander, "Double Wedding Ring Quilt," exhibition label for ALSO ON VIEW: Selections from the Collection. Stacy C. Hollander, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2014. Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information. To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.org