"Fanciful Flowers: Botany and the American Quilt"
2001-02-23 until 2001-06-03
Textile Museum
Washington, DC, USA

Fanciful Flowers explores the flower imagery of American quilts that was popular in the last half of the 19th century. Twenty-six different types and styles of quilts, including chintz applique, album, pieced, and crazy quilts, are featured. An important part of the exhibition is the pairing of similarly patterned quilts, which encourages the museum visitor to look beyond the imagery and make comparisons of the fabrics and technical skills of the makers. Fanciful Flowers was organized by the International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska, and is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue.

All of the quilts featured in Fanciful Flowers have botanical motifs and include flowers, garden styles, and color palettes popularized during the 19th century. Quilt designs included in the exhibition vary from appliqued and pieced quilts, to intricately embroidered and embellished crazy quilts. Many of the quilts are from states in the mid-Atlantic region, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of District of Columbia

Other Important Exhibitions in Washington