Princess Feather quilt

Christina Hays Malcom, artist

1820–1878

Princess Feather quilt, 1873

Where object was made: Indiana, United States

Material/technique: cotton; patchwork; quilting; appliqué

Credit line: Gift of Miss Iva James

Accession number: 1972.0123

Not on display

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Exhibition Label:
"Quilts: Flora Botanica," Jun-2008, Barbara Brackman and Susan Earle
Christina Malcom quilted her son Jonathan’s name and the date 1873 into this quilt, one of two she made for him. We know little about her. Jonathan and his father William came to Kansas in 1884 after their wives had died in Indiana, bringing about 25 of Christina’s quilts. The Spencer has thirteen, donated by his niece.

This variation of the popular Princess Feather design features florals hanging rather precariously from the whirling feathers. Naturalistic leaves lie in the corners of each of the four blocks. Several similar quilts survive in Kentucky and Indiana. Can this be a regional pattern handed from quilter to quilter?