Skip to Content
Closed now, next open tomorrow. Closed now, next open tomorrow.

  • Mon 11–5
  • Tue–Wed Closed
  • Thu 11–8
  • Fri–Sun 11–5
  • The first hour of every day, 10–11 a.m., is reserved for member-only viewing.

Quilt Top

A work made of cotton, plain weave; engraved-roller printed; fulled; pieced with cotton, machine stitching; embroidered with cotton in long-armed cross stitches.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

Image actions

  • A work made of cotton, plain weave; engraved-roller printed; fulled; pieced with cotton, machine stitching; embroidered with cotton in long-armed cross stitches.

Date:

1900/20

Artist:

United States

About this artwork

This quilt top is made from fabric premiums, rectangles of printed cotton fabric often given away by tobacco companies. The pieces of fabric either came with a purchase or could be redeemed with coupons collected from packages. Companies often designed their premiums in sets, such as the flags, blankets, and carpets used here, to incentivize consumption and encourage brand loyalty. In the early 20th century, magazines and tobacco companies encouraged women to collect these premiums and transform these common materials into items for everyday use in the home.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Textiles

Title

Quilt Top

Place

United States (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1900–1920

Medium

Cotton, plain weave; engraved-roller printed; fulled; pieced with cotton, machine stitching; embroidered with cotton in long-armed cross stitches

Dimensions

183 × 213 cm (72 × 83 1/2 in.); Flags approximately: 13.9 × 21.6 cm (5 1/2 × 8 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Purchased with funds provided by Mrs. Theodore D. Tieken

Reference Number

1991.168

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/121949/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

Share

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.
Learn more

Image actions

Share

Suggested Terms