central diamond pattern; purple borders with blue corner blocks and feather wreath quilting; narrower inner border of pinkish-red with blue corner blocks and pinwheel and stacked triangles; inner diamond of purple with eight-pointed quilted star bordered with another pinkish-red band with purple corners quilted with pinwheels and stacked triangles; blue triangles at sides of inner diamond with quilting of roses at one end and tulips at other end; purple wool edge binding; cotton cloth on back with red clover and dot print on black-red ground

Diamond in Square quilt, c. 1910

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Even a simple quilt design can pack a powerful graphic punch, as this one does with its contrasting color scheme. The Diamond in Square is a longtime favorite of the Amish.

Amish codes of conduct reject all forms of ostentation, pride, and vanity. Amish quilters therefore use patterns that are simple and feature nonrepresentational geometric shapes. They prefer piecing large fabric components and avoid appliqué. Representational imagery is allowed, however, in the quilting stitches worked subtly across a quilt’s surface. Here, the fine quilting stiches—visible only up close—form feather wreaths, eight-pointed stars, roses, and tulips.

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Details
Title
Diamond in Square quilt
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2003.257.1
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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central diamond pattern; purple borders with blue corner blocks and feather wreath quilting; narrower inner border of pinkish-red with blue corner blocks and pinwheel and stacked triangles; inner diamond of purple with eight-pointed quilted star bordered with another pinkish-red band with purple corners quilted with pinwheels and stacked triangles; blue triangles at sides of inner diamond with quilting of roses at one end and tulips at other end; purple wool edge binding; cotton cloth on back with red clover and dot print on black-red ground