Circa: 1950s–1960s
Size: 78”x63”
Pattern: Dresden Plate
Construction: Hand pieced and appliquéd; hand quilted
Description
Hand pieced, appliquéd, and beautifully hand quilted, this colorful Dresden Plate quilt brings together a lively collection of florals, plaids, novelty prints, and solids. Each plate radiates from a soft sage-green center in cheerful shades of red, pink, blue, yellow, turquoise, brown, and green. White backgrounds and pale aqua sashing frame the plates, while intricate hand quilting in chains, diamonds, leaves, and sweeping curves adds beautiful texture throughout.
Historical Period
Likely made during the postwar 1950s–1960s, this quilt carries forward a pattern most famously associated with the quilt revival of the 1920s and 1930s. Its combination of a traditional Dresden design with brighter mid-century fabrics suggests a maker continuing an older quilting tradition using scraps gathered from household sewing and previous projects.
About the Pattern
The Dresden Plate is formed from wedge-shaped pieces, or “blades,” arranged around an appliquéd center to resemble a flower, fan, or sunburst. This example uses broad, straight-ended blades rather than pointed or scalloped petals. Because each blade requires only a small amount of cloth, Dresden Plate became especially well suited to scrap quilting and often preserves a wonderful variety of fabrics within a single quilt.
Fabric
A wonderfully eclectic assortment of cotton plaids, solids, florals, novelty prints, and needlework-inspired motifs fills the Dresden Plates. Bright green, turquoise, red, pink, blue, yellow, and brown create a distinctly cheerful palette against the white and pale aqua ground. The variety suggests fabrics collected over time, with some scraps possibly predating the finished quilt itself.
Condition
Good vintage condition overall, with strong color and well-preserved hand quilting. Scattered age-related spotting, light discoloration, and gentle toning are visible in several of the pale aqua and white areas. Minor signs of wear and use are consistent with the quilt’s age and history.
Circa: 1950s–1960s
Size: 78”x63”
Pattern: Dresden Plate
Construction: Hand pieced and appliquéd; hand quilted
Description
Hand pieced, appliquéd, and beautifully hand quilted, this colorful Dresden Plate quilt brings together a lively collection of florals, plaids, novelty prints, and solids. Each plate radiates from a soft sage-green center in cheerful shades of red, pink, blue, yellow, turquoise, brown, and green. White backgrounds and pale aqua sashing frame the plates, while intricate hand quilting in chains, diamonds, leaves, and sweeping curves adds beautiful texture throughout.
Historical Period
Likely made during the postwar 1950s–1960s, this quilt carries forward a pattern most famously associated with the quilt revival of the 1920s and 1930s. Its combination of a traditional Dresden design with brighter mid-century fabrics suggests a maker continuing an older quilting tradition using scraps gathered from household sewing and previous projects.
About the Pattern
The Dresden Plate is formed from wedge-shaped pieces, or “blades,” arranged around an appliquéd center to resemble a flower, fan, or sunburst. This example uses broad, straight-ended blades rather than pointed or scalloped petals. Because each blade requires only a small amount of cloth, Dresden Plate became especially well suited to scrap quilting and often preserves a wonderful variety of fabrics within a single quilt.
Fabric
A wonderfully eclectic assortment of cotton plaids, solids, florals, novelty prints, and needlework-inspired motifs fills the Dresden Plates. Bright green, turquoise, red, pink, blue, yellow, and brown create a distinctly cheerful palette against the white and pale aqua ground. The variety suggests fabrics collected over time, with some scraps possibly predating the finished quilt itself.
Condition
Good vintage condition overall, with strong color and well-preserved hand quilting. Scattered age-related spotting, light discoloration, and gentle toning are visible in several of the pale aqua and white areas. Minor signs of wear and use are consistent with the quilt’s age and history.
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