China Trade with Miss Liberty, U.S.A. quilt top

Virginia Jean Cox Mitchell, artist

1931–2023

China Trade with Miss Liberty, U.S.A. quilt top, 1986

Where object was made: Lawrence, Kansas, United States

Material/technique: appliqué; cotton; piecing; stitching

Dimensions:
Object Length/Width (Length x Width): 229.9 x 229.9 cm
Object Length/Width (Length x Width): 90 1/2 x 90 1/2 in

Accession number: 2013.0173

Not on display

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The Power of Place: KU Alumni Artists

This quilt commemorates the centennial of the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor in 1986 and the bicentennial of the China Trade in 1984. The United States had begun taking goods to China 200 years earlier in the hope of selling items there and bringing back tea; this began the “China Trade.” Halley’s Comet was also scheduled to return in 1985–1986, and the artist wanted to include this event in her quilt. The Statue of Liberty stands like a goddess on a trunk, which the artist has called “the emigrant’s chest of hope.” Liberty Island is connected to a French Star block in recognition of the gift of Lady Liberty from France. Even fireworks are included in recognition of their invention in China. The artist’s mastery of technique and her ability to turn multiple abstract ideas into textile form results in a rich, visually complex design. As author Marie Shirer has noted, “Jean has pushed needle through cloth more times than anyone could count.”

The Power of Place: KU Alumni Artists

Exhibition Label:
"Personal Geometry: Quilts by Yoshiko Jinzenji and Virginia Jean Cox Mitchell," Feb-2014, Susan Earle and Cassandra Mesick
This quilt commemorates the centennial of the Statue of Liberty in 1986 and the bicentennial of the China Trade in 1984. Halley’s Comet was also to return in 1985-1986, and the artist wanted to include this event in her quilt commemorating this moment. Lady Liberty stands like a goddess on a trunk, which the artist has called “the emigrant’s chest of hope.” Liberty island is connected to a French Star block in recognition of the gifting of Lady Liberty from France to the United States. Even fireworks are included in recognition of their invention in China. The artist’s mastery of technique and her ability to turn multiple abstract ideas into visual, textile form is seen abundantly in this work. As author Marie Shirer has noted, “Between the English Piecing, precise appliqué, hand-embroidered chain stitching around almost every appliqué, and close hand quilting, Jean has pushed needle through cloth more times than anyone could count.”

Exhibition Label:
"Kansas Quilts," 6-Jul-29-Sep, 1996,Nancy Corwin
I wanted to commemorate three events in this quilt: 1) the bicentennial of the China Trade in 1984; 2) the return of Halley's Comet during 1985-1986; and 3) the centennial of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. The quilt is done in a chinoiserie style and has flowers symbolizing many of the countries from which immigrants came to the United States. The central roundel is enclosed by the Dresden Plate pattern, divided so that it is an "America the beautiful" border: amber waves of grain, purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain, and the blue of the sea to shining sea.
Virginia Jean Cox Mitchell