Botanical Quilts: Chintz Appliqué in the 19th Century
Charleston has a long and venerable quilt making history. One of the most stunning techniques, broderie perse or chintz appliqué, consisted of fabulous floral and botanical printed fabrics imported from India, England and Europe. The quilt was made by cutting up these luxurious textiles and then reapplying the motifs to a larger fabric, carefully stitching around each element. Quiltmakers could create a stunning tree of life, a graceful floral basket or an album quilt of many different designs. Botanical Quilts examines the many different botanically-inspired quilts that graced the beds of Lowcountry residents throughout the 19th century.
One of the most stunning pieces in Botanical Quilts is an elaborate Tree of Life quilt (pictured above), probably made by Margaret Eliza Seyle Burges 1833. The tree abounds with flowers, leaves as well as birds and butterflies, each individually hand-appliquéd to the backing. Pictured left is one of the earliest quilts in the exhibit, a floral medallion quilt, c. 1815, with Trophy of Arms centerpiece and impressive floral borders. The maker was possibly Mary Withers Read (c. 1791-1820), wife of John Harleston Read of Charleston. A design often seen in Charleston quilts is exemplified by a Basket of Flowers medallion quilt, c. 1840, from the Aiken family of Charleston. Even the basket itself was created from a delicate vine print and the border around the medallion is a ring of colorful flowers. A later chintz appliqué style is represented by an album quilt consisting of thirty-six blocks, each a different botanical print, many signed by their makers, 1847-1848. It was made by family and friends of the Chapman family, Blackville, South Carolina.
One of the most stunning pieces in Botanical Quilts is an elaborate Tree of Life quilt (pictured above), probably made by Margaret Eliza Seyle Burges 1833. The tree abounds with flowers, leaves as well as birds and butterflies, each individually hand-appliquéd to the backing. Pictured left is one of the earliest quilts in the exhibit, a floral medallion quilt, c. 1815, with Trophy of Arms centerpiece and impressive floral borders. The maker was possibly Mary Withers Read (c. 1791-1820), wife of John Harleston Read of Charleston. A design often seen in Charleston quilts is exemplified by a Basket of Flowers medallion quilt, c. 1840, from the Aiken family of Charleston. Even the basket itself was created from a delicate vine print and the border around the medallion is a ring of colorful flowers. A later chintz appliqué style is represented by an album quilt consisting of thirty-six blocks, each a different botanical print, many signed by their makers, 1847-1848. It was made by family and friends of the Chapman family, Blackville, South Carolina.
