Saturday at the Quilt Museum - Color Play with Orange (or Cheddar.....or Cadmium Yellow.....or Gold!)

Orange (or Cheddar or Cadmium Yellow or Gold -- whatever your choice of color description) is not overly used in quilts from the 1800's, but once in awhile there is a gem that just sparkles because of it.

A friend of mine taught me that every scrap-quilt needs to have some of this color in it.  I have found it to be true.  It just adds that bit of sunshine that delights the eye.

On an excursion around the Internet, I found quite a few of these beauties that feature orange in delightful ways.  I want to share them with you.

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Patriotic Eagle and Coxcomb

Unknown Artist & Location

Mid-1800's

84" x 84"

This beautifully appliqued quilt features red, green and cheddar on a white background.  There are four green eagles, one in the center of each side at the edges. They almost disappear into the border design!  I love the motion of the coxcombs and leaves, and the little heart motifs are sweet.  It is crosshatched, which in my mind is perfect for the design.

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Whig Rose

Unknown Artist

New England

1855

I have no information about this one other than what is above.  It reminds me of spring with the profusion of orange, yellow, and green and the flowers springing from the corners of the blocks! The border is an interesting one to me with all those little circles.  I wonder how she did them?

This photo is sourced from SurrendrDorothy on Flickr via Pinterest.

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Sunflowers and Double Hearts
Unknown Artist
New England
1865

Isn't this just such a happy quilt?  I'm imagining the woman who made it got tired of the dreary New England winter, and decided to get some sunshine under her fingers!  The sunflowers are so perky and I love the hearts in the corners of the blocks. It looks to me as if the borders were well planned because the vining motif is so evenly spaced.  And those cute stars in the corners. So fun!

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Pineapples & Roses

Unknown Artist

Circa 1860

84" x 70" approximately

"Pineapples and Roses, circa 1860.  Twelve 15 1/2" white cotton squares have green and orange pineapples and green and red roses appliqued to them.  The rosebuds are stuffed.  The blocks are set straight with no sashing between them.  There is a 1 1/2" inner sawtooth border made of alternating triangles of orange and green.  The 10 1/2" wide outer border has a continuous red rose and green vine applique.  Carmel colored binding.  Muslin Sleeve."

The photo on Pinterest was sourced from the Grand Rapids Public Museum, but I can't find it again.  The description above came with the photo.  I love the way the cheddar in the pineapples peeks out from the green.  Very striking quilt!

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Sunflower Quilt

Aurora Colony, Oregon

I know nothing about this quilt other than that is it from the Aurora Colony in Oregon.  I love the sunflowers and wreaths, the perky flowers and swag borders.

Each October, the Colony has a Quilt Show, and this was part of the exhibit in 2011.  It has been on my list to go, and I hope that this year it will become a reality.  For information about the show, click the link below.

43rd Annual Aurora Colony Quilt Show

For more pictures of this and other quilts from the Aurora Colony, click the link below.

Aurora Colony Quilts

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"Big Tulips, Small Pots, Little Teeny Birds & Baskets"

Unknown Artist

Ohio

Circa 1880

90" x 90"

Isn't this one interestingly done?  I like the name the seller has given it!  The tulips are big, the pots are small, and the birds and baskets are "little teeny"!

It is listed on the Quilt Complex and more information may be found at the link below.
Quilt Complex

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Applique Album Quilt

Stuffed Work

Unknown Artist

1860

I love the openness of this one.  Each of the album blocks shines on its own.  The use of orange/cheddar is sparse in comparison with some of the others we've seen, but it just perks it up, doesn't it?  It's interesting to me that the borders are different. Maybe she just wanted to try a few different things!

This photo is sourced from SurrendrDorothy on Flickr via Pinterest.

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Half-Square Triangles!
Unknown Artist
New York
1875

My scrap bag is calling me!  How about yours?  I love what the quiltmaker did with this one.  It's just all light/dark half-square triangles placed to give a look similar to Ocean Waves, but way simpler!  Such a fun one.

This photo is sourced from SurrendrDorothy on Flickr via Pinterest.

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Pot of Flowers

Pennsylvania

1870

100 3/4" x 73 1/2"

I saved this one for last because it is the one that has spoken to me the most.  It is so happy and at the same time so lovely.  The stars in the corners and the color play in them delight me and the variety of flowers in their little pots is wonderful.  I love the sweet little baskets and that there are pieced and appliqued elements, both.  I'm curious about the odd corner flower element.  Three are the same, one is different.  Was there a significance to that?  Who was the woman who made this?  Was she Pennsylvania-Dutch?  Did she have an abundant scrap basket, or did she buy the fabric she needed just for this quilt?  Oh, if these quilt could speak!

This photo appears on the cover of "Treasury of American Quilts" by Cyril Nelson and Carter Houck.

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Thanks for joining me on this tour of 19th century quilts that showcase the color Orange (or Cheddar or Cadmium Yellow or Gold!)

Happy Quilting!!

PLEASE NOTE:
- I am not a quilt historian.  I simply enjoy finding interesting quilts and sharing them with you!
- The quilt images on this post were sourced from Pinterest unless otherwise noted, and are linked to their origin whenever possible.