Object Details
Created by
Stephen Blumrich, German American, 1941 - 2015
Description
This miniature quilt or wall hanging made by Stephen Blumrich of Pea Ridge Purties features twelve (12) pieced Black Uncle Sam blocks separated by sashing. The quilt consists of the pieced top layer, a thin layer of batting, and a plain muslin backing. The layers are tied together with red thread, each tie corresponding to make a button at the center chest of the shirt of the pieced figural blocks. Each figure wears a red and white striped top hat with a blue brim and has his arms outstretched. The faces and hands are made from plain black cotton. Yellow eyes and a red mouth are embroidered on each face. All of the figures wear red and white striped pants matching the hats, but each figure's shirt is made from a different printed cotton. The background of the figural blocks is made from a plain muslin that appears to have been dyed with tea or coffee to appear aged. The blocks are set with sashing made from a navy cotton with small floral sprig design, with a yellow fabric in the sashing corners that is fussy cut so that a five-pointed star is at the center of the squares. The top is surrounded by a thin border made from plain red cotton. The backing of the quilt is made from a single piece of the same plain muslin dyed with coffee or tea that is used in the background of the figural blocks. Stamped in the lower right corner of the back is a rectangle in dark brown with uncolored text inside reading "PEA RIDGE / PURTIES." Text stamped in dark brown below the box reads "COPYRIGHT 1986 / STEPHEN BLUMRICH".
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer
Date
1986
Object number
2007.7.263
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Type
quilts
Medium
cotton
Dimensions
H x W x D: 30 × 21 7/8 × 1/4 in. (76.2 × 55.6 × 0.6 cm)
Place made
Tullahoma, Coffee County, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America
See more items in
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification
Textiles and Quilts
Data Source
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Topic
African American
Art
Craftsmanship
Design
Folklife
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmaahc_2007.7.263