Circa: 1880–1910
Size: 71”x51.5”
Pattern: Sugar Loaf / Arrowhead
Construction: Hand pieced & hand quilted
Fabrics: Printed cottons, shirtings & gingham
Hand pieced and densely hand quilted, this striking Sugar Loaf quilt pairs softly faded red-and-white triangular blocks with an unusual yellow-green sprigged cotton. Repeating Sugar Loaf motifs alternate with large green triangles, creating a bold geometric rhythm across the quilt. Occasional blue gingham and striped shirting pieces break from the otherwise consistent palette, giving the quilt a charming make-do quality. Years of use have left the surface beautifully puckered and timeworn, with areas of significant fabric loss that reveal the quilt's long and well-loved history.
Late 19th to early 20th century, c. 1880–1910. The Sugar Loaf, also known as Arrowhead, is a documented nineteenth-century pattern. The fabrics, hand construction, dense quilting and aging of this example are consistent with a quilt made around the turn of the century.
The Sugar Loaf is an early geometric pattern constructed from triangular units rather than traditional square blocks. Each block features a large central triangle surrounded by smaller triangles, likely referencing the pointed conical shape of the old-fashioned sugar loaf. Here, the maker alternated the pieced blocks with large green triangles, producing a wonderfully graphic and unusual arrangement.
The quilt is dominated by a distinctive yellow-green sprigged cotton, paired with red-and-white printed cottons that have faded beautifully into shades of brick red and dusty pink. Plain white cotton, blue-gray gingham and striped shirtings appear throughout, suggesting the use of available household or dressmaking scraps. The varied fabrics and occasional substitutions give the quilt wonderful individuality and character.
Fair antique condition with significant wear. Areas of fading, thinning, fraying and fabric loss are present throughout, particularly in the red fabrics, with batting exposed in several places. Dense hand quilting remains beautifully visible across both the front and plain white backing.
Circa: 1880–1910
Size: 71”x51.5”
Pattern: Sugar Loaf / Arrowhead
Construction: Hand pieced & hand quilted
Fabrics: Printed cottons, shirtings & gingham
Hand pieced and densely hand quilted, this striking Sugar Loaf quilt pairs softly faded red-and-white triangular blocks with an unusual yellow-green sprigged cotton. Repeating Sugar Loaf motifs alternate with large green triangles, creating a bold geometric rhythm across the quilt. Occasional blue gingham and striped shirting pieces break from the otherwise consistent palette, giving the quilt a charming make-do quality. Years of use have left the surface beautifully puckered and timeworn, with areas of significant fabric loss that reveal the quilt's long and well-loved history.
Late 19th to early 20th century, c. 1880–1910. The Sugar Loaf, also known as Arrowhead, is a documented nineteenth-century pattern. The fabrics, hand construction, dense quilting and aging of this example are consistent with a quilt made around the turn of the century.
The Sugar Loaf is an early geometric pattern constructed from triangular units rather than traditional square blocks. Each block features a large central triangle surrounded by smaller triangles, likely referencing the pointed conical shape of the old-fashioned sugar loaf. Here, the maker alternated the pieced blocks with large green triangles, producing a wonderfully graphic and unusual arrangement.
The quilt is dominated by a distinctive yellow-green sprigged cotton, paired with red-and-white printed cottons that have faded beautifully into shades of brick red and dusty pink. Plain white cotton, blue-gray gingham and striped shirtings appear throughout, suggesting the use of available household or dressmaking scraps. The varied fabrics and occasional substitutions give the quilt wonderful individuality and character.
Fair antique condition with significant wear. Areas of fading, thinning, fraying and fabric loss are present throughout, particularly in the red fabrics, with batting exposed in several places. Dense hand quilting remains beautifully visible across both the front and plain white backing.
