The Gift of Christmas quilt top, Virginia Jean Cox Mitchell

Artwork Overview

The Gift of Christmas quilt top, 1979–1986
Where object was made: Lawrence, Kansas, United States
Material/technique: appliqué; stitching; cotton; piecing
Dimensions:
Object Length/Width (Length x Width): 231.1 x 232.4 cm
Object Length/Width (Length x Width): 91 1/2 x 91 in
Credit line: Gift of Virginia Jean Cox Mitchell and Bill
Accession number: 2013.0171
Not on display

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Images

Label texts

Exhibition Label: "Personal Geometry: Quilts by Yoshiko Jinzenji and Virginia Jean Cox Mitchell," Feb-2014, Susan Earle and Cassandra Mesick The center design of this quilt was a gift from Jean Mitchell to her husband Bill for Christmas in 1979. The Christmas nativity scene is enlarged from a drawing their son Cotter made for them when he was eight years old. The Star of Bethlehem quilt pattern surrounds the central medallion. The quilt top celebrates the simple gifts of Christmas and incorporates many symbols of historical traditions from around the world. This work has an especially bold design, with a large diamond shape interlocking with the border square. The colorful dynamism perhaps underscores the message of peace, tradition, and love and forms a backdrop for the many symbolic details.

Exhibitions