Quilt (Pieced quilt)

Description

This quilt made by an unidentified member of the Amish community features a pieced pattern of small, solid-colored squares that radiate in concentric diamonds from the center in shades of greens, blues, purples, reds, orange and black. These diamonds are framed within a light blue border featuring quilted designs of vines and flowers. A diagonal grid is quilted throughout the blocks of the central design. A frequent hallmark of Amish quilting practices, this quilt is machine-pieced and hand-quilted. The design is commonly known as “Trip Around the World” but is also referred to as “Sunshine and Shadow” after Jonathan Holstein’s 1973 publication on Amish quilts, The Pieced Quilt, which featured the pattern on its cover. This version is made from cotton, wool, and synthetic fabrics including crepes, pointing toward the Midwest between the 1940s and 1960s as a likely place and time of origin.