The signature Double Wedding Ring Quilt of the Pilgrim/Roy Collection on exhibit at Museum of Fine Arts Boston
While in Boston prior to the 2014 Marathon, we saw city buses sporting a colorful double wedding ring quilt. We couldn’t help but notice. The vibrant, pop-art quilt with its striking purple background and spinning wheels of color filled the side of the bus from top to bottom, luring us to the Pilgrim/Roy Collection of eye-popping quilts on exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts. I couldn’t wait to see it. Not only has my mom cut, pieced, and stitched quilts for just about everyone in the family, she has introduced us all to the fine art of combining colors and geometric shapes to produce art worthy of display in any museum.
Museum of Fine Arts Boston
To say the least, the exhibit dazzles the eye and stirs the soul. You could be attracted to any of the sixty graphically bold American quilts just for the patterns . . . or the colors . . . or the workmanship. But taken as a whole, this body of work takes your breath away. Displayed in dark rooms, the spotlighted quilts move those who stand silently or speak in hushed voices as they contemplate fabric choices, patterns, and hand-stitching. The curated collection includes well-documented acquisition details and the names of makers, if known. We think you, too, will enjoy seeing these special American artifacts that are artistic in every sense of the word.
Visitor admires a Mariner’s Compass quilt: Massachusetts, about 1840
Bold Colors
Many quilts in the Pilgrim/Roy Collection — almost all, in fact — are notable for rich, vibrant colors that have stood the test of time.
Center Medallion tied child’s comforter: Missouri, 1910
Mennonite, Nine Patch: Pennsylvania (Bucks County), 1880s
Amish, Snail’s Tails: Illinois (Arthur) about 1930
Close-up: Snail’s Tails: Pieced wool plain weave and twill top
Chain Star: Midwestern U. S., 1940s
Close-up: Chain Star. Pieced and appliqued printed cotton plain weave top.
Optical Illusions
If you move one way and then another, you’ll note something different about the quilts that “fool the eye.” Whether it’s the pattern or the combination of fabrics or even how light comes into play, it’s fun to look more than once at the optical illusion quilts.
Yellow Baskets: New York, 1920s-30s.
Perhaps not intended to be an optical illusion, this quilt took on a different appearance as we moved from side to side.
Close-up: Yellow Baskets (At times, grays became more dominant in the background.)
Detail: Yellow Baskets
Striking Geometrics
Although many quilt patterns are quite traditional, the choice of colors can add a modern-day geometric quality or a bold statement as lights and darks contrast.
Lend and Borrow: Pennsylvania (Lancaster County), 1870s
Close-up: Lend and Borrow
Mennonite: Double Irish Chain on point: Pennsylvania, 1880-90
Stitching detail: Double Irish Chain
Log Cabin Variations
At least one long wall and then some was dedicated to quilts using the Log Cabin pattern — squares made up of tiny strips of fabric, half of them light and half dark. But it’s placement of the squares that determines the overall pattern.
Log Cabin, Sunshine and Shadow variation: Illinois, 1870s. Maker: Rebexy Gray.
Close-up: Sunshine and Shadow
Log Cabin, Multiple Barn Raising variation: Pennsylvania, 1930s
Log Cabin, Windmill Blades variation: Ohio, about 1890
Close-up: Windmill Blades variation
Traditional
Even the traditional patterns became extraordinary with the bursts of color and attention to detail.
Fans: Pennsylvania, 1900-10. Pieced top of wool plain weave and twill with silk embroidery.
Wild Goose Chase: Pennsylvania (Lancaster County), 1880s
Detail: Baltimore Album Quilt, Maryland, before 1847
Detail 2: Baltimore Album Quilt, Maryland, before 1847
Quilts and Color: The Pilgrim/Roy Collection is on exhibit from April 6, 2014, to July 27, 2014. Be sure to check the website for dates and times. To purchase the book you see below, click here.
Quilts and Color: The Pilgrim/Roy Collection by Pamela A. Parmal and Jennifer M. Swope
http://www.mfa.org/collections/publications/quilts-and-color
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Avenue of the Arts
465 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
General Information: 617-267-9300
Website: http://www.mfa.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mfaboston
To purchase Quilts and Color: http://www.mfa.org/collections/publications/quilts-and-color
My Pinterest board on Quilts: http://www.pinterest.com/rushasams/quilts/
FreeRangeCow
I love your personal connection to quilts! I hope it’s and “art form” that never.never.never disappears!
Rusha Sams
I hope the art form never dies, too. However, I’ve noticed a decline in the number of quilt shops. Maybe I better get sewing! Thanks for reading/commenting.
Sartenada
Wow, that is great collection of very beautiful quilts. They have colors in harmony and wonderful patterns.
Our quilts in Finland differ from them. If You do not mind, I give my link here:
Quilt show 2012.
Rusha Sams
Thanks for reading. I love looking at quilts even if I don’t make them myself. Such great work! Thanks for the link.
Linda Arthur Tejera
These are so beautiful and the hand-stitching is amazing!
Rusha Sams
You are so right. We just stood there staring. Most of the time, we had to lean over the rails to get a closer look. We couldn’t believe what we saw! Thanks for reading!
Rusha Sams
So true! Thanks for taking a look!
suzjones
Oh wow. These are divine. The thing that blows my mind the most is that a lot of them were hand stitched!
Rusha Sams
The hand stitching made me lean in closer and closer with each subsequent quilt. I just couldn’t believe that people had the patience to do that work! They truly are divine quilts in great shape! Thanks for commenting.
suzjones
I am blown away by that work. Truly. I know how difficult it is to make a quilt on a machine but to do it all by hand. Whilst it is immensely satisfying, it is certainly a lot of work. I am working on a hexagon quilt that is all hand-sewn. It’s a work in progress and so far only covers my lap but in time it will grow. 🙂
Rusha Sams
At least you are working on one. I inherited an unfinished quilt that requires handwork for the border. I have yet to do anything with it. Maybe you and the quilts in this collection will inspire me to “get with it”!
suzjones
I really have to sit down and finish the Tween’s quilt but it’s doing my head in lol
susanissima
These are gorgeous! Absolutely loving your posts!
Rusha Sams
Thanks so much for taking time to take a look. Always appreciate readers and commenters.
Sherry Galey
I love quilts. They are works of art and these are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Rusha Sams
I love quilts, too — mostly antique ones, but some of the modern ones are quite interesting. They are all works of art, and I probably never will make one myself. The stitching and the preserved colors make these quilts especially noteworthy. Thanks for reading/commenting!