Blazing Star quilt, or Patchwork quilt, or Eight-Point Star quilt, unknown maker from the United States

Exhibition Label:
“Quilting Time and Space,” Jun-2010, Chassica Kirchhoff
This quilt is an elaborate and revealing variation
of the star patterned quilt that crossed cultural
boundaries in the late 19th century to become a ubiquitous fixture in the vocabulary of both Anglo-American and American Indian quilters.
The pattern of multiple, unique eight-pointed stars evolved from the older and more centralized Lone Star pattern. This quilt represents a style that is less rigid than its earlier predecessors, in which the stars were arranged within a grid of fabric.

During the post-Civil War period, when this
quilt was made, many patterns became more standardized and widespread through dissemination of patchwork patterns in national magazines, and new variations evolved from traditional patterns to reflect the immense changes that were affecting every region of the United States. Additionally, a broader range of calicos became more readily available throughout the country, replacing the “homespun” fabric that had been used in many
regions, such as the south, that had been far-removed from centers of textile production.