Delectable Mountains quilts are on the docket for this week.
Though I don't know the actual origin of this pattern, apparently the popularity of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress from the late 1600's, and his "Delectable Mountains," contributed to the fact that it was a much loved pattern. Also the American Westward Trek in the 1800's through the Rockies, Sierras, and Cascades was a catalyst for the same.
I found an interesting story of a Delectable Mountains quilt entitled THE
QUILT THAT SURVIVED THE LOST WAGON TRAIN (1853 through the Cascades). You can read it at Patterns From History.
You can also find a free Delectable Mountains pattern on the same website
here.
So, here we go!
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Delectable
Mountains Quilt
1850
97" x 83 1/4"
In Brooklyn Museum
Other than being made in 1850, there isn't much information available for this quilt. It looks to me as if only one grey-green and two red fabrics were used in it, along with one white with a small print for the background. It is striking in its simplicity. And I like the half-square triangle border treatment.
No word on who made it, but it was in the "Workt by Hand: Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts" exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum in 2013.
Here is a short piece about the exhibit: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/quilts
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Delectable
Mountains
Jane Gibb
Possibly made in Quincy, Illinois
1835
83" x 96"
This one is amazing. If my calculations are right, the on-point squares are 3 3/4", making the half-square triangles finish at 3/4" each. That's just incredible. All hand done, of course. I love what she did with the colors, too. She had a real eye for balance and complement. The variety of fabric she used is also amazing.
It is part of the Ardis and Rober James Collection and resides at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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Delectable Mountains / Sawtooth
Pennsylvania
1830-1840
70" x 88"
I like the beauty of this in its simplicity. It appears that there are just a few fabrics used, one being a stripe.
You can see more about it here:
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Delectable Mountains
Margaret Carpenter
Lewes, Delaware
1845
I like this one in its simplicity, as well. The use of blue always makes me happy!
It is part of the Quilt Collection of the state of Delaware.
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Delectable Mountains Album Quilt
Ruth Bower Swinney Ogden & Family & Friends
Bridgeton, New Jersey
1839-1847
100" x 102"
This is a unique Delectable Mountains in that it is also an album quilt. The light halves of the squares are signed.
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Delectable Mountains
1870
89
¾” x 88”
This one struck me because of the bold colors. It's interesting, but not my favorite.
You can see more about it and other quilts at the American Quilt Study Group below.
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Delectable Mountains Variation
1880's - '90's
Absolutely no information about this one, but I really like the color and the integration of other patterns. The center stars used as the base for the "mountains" half of the blocks, non-contrasting base halves that make the corner blocks look kind of like a bear's paw. And the nine-patch-and-rails sashing and Sawtooth border. Just a lot of fun! I might try to reproduce this one.
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Delectable Mountains Crib Quilt
1840
New England Quilt Museum
Isn't this sweet? A little crib quilt using the Delectable Mountains pattern. I like it.
You can see more about it and other quilts from the New England Quilt Museum on this blog:
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Thanks for joining us for our tour of Delectable Mountains Quilts!
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.
