Lot 227: Exhibited Patriotic Quilt, Colorful Medallion Star with Eagles

Patriotic Medallion Star pattern quilt, one of two made by an unknown maker that descended in the Keeler Family of Ridgefield, Connecticut. Hand pieced, appliqued, and quilted, and consisting of printed and solid chintz cotton in Prussian blue, pink, and brown colors, appliqued eagles holding rose buds and arrows to each corner, interspersed with appliqued potted roses consisting of red, green, and brown prints, all on a white ground with white cotton back. Cotton batting with diagonal quilting with quilting around each appliqué, visible from the back. 88 in. 88 in. Circa 1850. Note: This is one of three quilts in this auction from the collection of Linda Felts, recently featured in the Pieced & Patterned exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida, which ran from September 18, 2021, to January 23, 2022.  The companion quilt to this one, which descended from the same family, is featured in two books: It was the cover page for “Quilts and Quiltmakers Covering Connecticut,” published by the Connecticut Quilt Search Project, published in 2002. According to the Connecticut Quilt Search Project, Ralph Keeler was one of the first colonists to purchase land and settle a plantation in Ridgefield in 1697. The companion quilt is also featured in the book “All Flags Flying: American Patriotic Quilts as Expressions of Liberty” by Robert Bishop and Carter Houck, published in 1986, on page 17, Figure 8. The companion quilt is also documented in the Quilt Index as #17-13-2489.

PROVENANCE: The estate of collector and designer Linda McCormick Felts, Memphis, TN.

CONDITION: Old professional repairs to diamonds in the center star, and some of the flower pots, as well as a new binding to the edge to help stabilize the quilt. Water stain to one corner, and yellowing at fold lines on the back.