Floral Urn Quilt by Susan McCord, circa 1860

Artifact Overview

Susan McCord was an ordinary Indiana farmwife with an extraordinary genius for quilt making. Her Floral Urn quilt is reminiscent of album quilts made of large appliqué floral or wreath blocks. Large floral motifs were popular in the mid-19th century -- but McCord's version is exceptionally imaginative. McCord's love of gardening inspired the fuchsia, tulips, and daisies which spill whimsically from the urns.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Quilt

Date Made

circa 1860

Creators

McCord, Susan Noakes, 1829-1909

Place of Creation

United States, Indiana, Hancock county, McCordsville

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

72.140.2

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Cotton (Textile)
Muslin
Batting

Technique

Applique (Technique)
Quilting
Embroidering
Roller printing (Printmaking)

Color

Multicolored
Green
Pink (Color)
Red
White (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 83 in
Width: 85 in

Specifications

Pattern: Floral Urn

Number of Pieces (top): Not noted

Fabric (top): Roller printed cotton, solid cotton, print cotton

Piecing Technique: Hand pieced and hand appliqued

Number of Pieces (back): 4

Fabric (back): Cotton muslin

Stitches per Inch: 9-12

Quilting Pattern: Diagonal lines, crosshatch grid pattern, double outline quilted around the appliques, borders double outline quilted around appliques, additional leaves quilted on either side of vine

Quilting Technique: Hand quilted

Binding: Applied binding, straight cut, curved slightly around straight corners

Batting: Thin cotton batting with some milling debris visible but no seeds

Note(s):