Anna Showalter Trissel's Quilt

Every once in a while I decide to sell a great quilt, and I've been thinking about finding a new home for this one for a while. It is a best 1880s Double Irish Chain Quilt from Virginia, with complete provenance - and published! This quilt was made by Anna Showalter Trissel in Rockingham County, Virginia.  It is pictured in the book, “A Treasury of Mennonite Quilts” by Rachel and Kenneth Pellman. The powerful story behind this amazing quilt is in the book, along with many other great quilts and their stories.  

Anna Showalter Trissel was widowed when her youngest son, David, was three years old. She died two years later, when David was five. Before her death, she made this quilt for her young son. David grew up and married Lily Hess. He died eight months later. Lily was remarried to David's brother, John Trissel, in 1910. They gave this quilt to their daughter, Iva, the second of six children.   

This quilt is one of the best of its kind, a Double Irish Chain in turkey red, dark indigo and bright white, It is skillfully hand-pieced with a small amount of treadle or machine applique of the corner squares finishing each block. The hand quilting is very fine and even, 10-12 stitches per inch, sometimes more! There are elaborate feathered wreathes in the white patches and double diagonal rows elsewhere. There is no wear to this quilt at all. The narrow 1/4" binding is turned from the back and hand-hemmed.      

The quilt is clean, thin, crisp, and bright.  Cotton debris can be seen in the thin batting when held to the light. There are some tan stains on the back that do not show through. Measures  75” x 85”.  An amazing patriotic quilt, can now be yours before Memorial Day and July 4th! Don't miss this wonderful collector's quilt. To view the listing on eBay, click here.