An exquisite and authoritative look at four centuries of quilts and quilting from around the world Quilts are among the most utilitarian of art objects, yet the best among them possess a formal beauty that rivals anything made on canvas. This landmark book, drawn from the world-renowned collection of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, highlights the splendor and craft of quilts with more than 300 superb color images and details. Fascinating essays by two noted scholars trace the evolution of quilting styles and trends as they relate to the social, political, and economic issues of their time. The collection includes quilts made by diverse religious and cultural groups over 400 years and across continents, from the Mediterranean, England, France, America, and Polynesia. The earliest quilts were made in India and the Mediterranean for export to the west and date to the late 16th century. Examples from 18th- to 20th-century America, many made by Amish and African-American quilters, reflect the multicultural nature of American society and include boldly colored and patterned worsteds and brilliant pieced and appliquéd works of art. Grand in scope and handsomely produced, Four Centuries of Quilts: The Colonial Williamsburg Collection is sure to be one of the most useful and beloved references on quilts and quilting for years to come.

The history of quilts, their makers, and usage is an important part of our country's heritage presented here in full detail through 330 vintage photographs. Books on quilt history have, to date, included only a few photos of quilts. This in-depth collection, most of which has never been seen before, date from 1855 to 1955. Each vivid image provides commentary on quilting specifics, photography, costume, and American cultural history, especially toward the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Photographic formats and a glossary of quilting terms are included to aid the reader in dating their own vintage photographs. This book is a wonderful resource for all quilters, historians, and photographers.

"One of America's largest collections of quilts - containing almost 400 examples at the time of this publication and steadily growing - belongs to the Museum of American Folk Art in New York City. As it is a national, not a regional institution, the Museum does not restrict its collection by location, nor is it restricted by time period: The quilts have been made all over the country and range in date from the late-eighteenth to the late-twentieth century." "Until this publication, however, there has been no comprehensive guide to the Museum's quilts, almost all of which have been donated by collectors in the field. Highlights from the collection have been published and exhibited many times, but the purpose of this book is to provide an opportunity for quiltmakers, collectors, scholars, and others to explore the collection in depth. The comprehensive discussion of the quilts has been divided into eleven chapters that are illustrated with 141 color plates. This text is then followed by a catalog of the entire collection, which in turn contains forty-four black-and-white illustrations. Here, then, is a richly handsome and informative volume that will prove to be essential for all those fascinated by this category of American folk art."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Beautiful Quilts! Beautiful antique quilts and a workbook of patterns come together in this lavish photography book for quilters. The more than 30 featured quilts from the Wisconsin State Historical Society collection are displayed in period rooms at Old World Wisconsin, the Society's outdoor museum of German and Scandinavian farmhouses. Patterns and block layouts are provided for replicating each of the original quilts, and after seeing each of them in a true historical context, home sewers will be inspired to create their own versions.

Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich has remarked, “Much of the social history of early America has been lost to us precisely because women were expected to use needles rather than pens.” This book, part of the multivolume series of the International Quilt Study Center collections, recovers a swath of that lost history and shows us some of America’s treasured material culture as it was pieced and stitched into place. American Quilts in the Modern Age, 1870–1940 examines the period’s quilts from both an artistic and a historical perspective. From pieced block to Crazy style to Colonial Revival examples, as well as one-of-a-kind creations, the full array of style and design appears in this book covering seven decades of quiltmaking. The contributing authors provide critical information regarding the modern and anti-modern tensions that persisted throughout this era of America’s coming of age, from the Civil War to World War II. They also address the textile technology and cultural context of the times in which the quilts were created, with an eye to the role that industrialization and modernization played in the evolution of techniques, materials, and designs. With full-color photographs of over 587 quilts, American Quilts in the Modern Age, 1870-1940 offers a new visual and tactile understanding of American culture and society, bridging the transition from traditional folk culture to the age of mass production and consumption.

Embark on a dazzling journey through the spectacular colors, rich textures, and treasured traditions of America's most spectacular quilts. Delve into a one-of-a-kind exploration of 65 glorious quilts hand-selected from the permanent collection of American-made quilts at the International Quilt Study Center & Museum - the largest public collection of quilts in the world. Treat yourself to a personal tour through this collection of rare gems. Each gorgeous quilt is a precious historic heirloom in its own right, highlighted in stunning, color-saturated photos. You'll be inspired and moved again and again by the breathtaking beauty, incredible workmanship, and ingenious artistry of America's quiltmaking tradition.

One hundred spectacular antique quilts from one of the largest, privately held quilt and textile collections in the world. Turn back time with color photos and insightful essays about America’s quilting past! Admire one hundred antique quilts and textiles you’ve never seen before, curated from the remarkable Poos Collection. Flip through the pages to find a wide range of styles in pre-Civil War quilting—elaborate hand piecing and appliqué, signature quilts, wholecloth beauties, cutout chintz, and intarsia, plus the only known example of an American pictorial war quilt. An invaluable resource to America’s quilt history, the Poos Collection shares its classic, one-of-a-kind quilts. Admire one hundred colorful artifacts from the priceless Poos Collection Read insights and information on the history behind the quilts Relax and feast your eyes on these pre-1860 quilts, including album, wool, paper-pieced, white-on-white wholecloth, red and green, indigo, and chintz quilts