Double Irish Chain variation quilt, c. 1940-60
Unknown artist, United Statesexpand_more
Cotton; pieced and quiltedexpand_more
Gift of Dr. Richard L. Simmons in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Minneapolis Institute of Artexpand_more 2015.74.2
Not on Viewexpand_more
Though its vibrant colors are eye-catching, this quilt is most significant for its design: a variation on the Irish Chain, a pattern popular in the United States since the early 1800s. In a traditional Irish Chain, the squares form a diamond pattern. Here, the pattern has been transformed into a vertical-horizontal grid by rotating the squares a quarter turn (setting them “on point,” in quilting terminology). This shows how a quilter could improvise and personalize her design while maintaining cherished communal patterns.
The name Irish Chain originated in the United States. In Ireland, the pattern was known simply as “patching.” When waves of Irish immigrants arrived in the United States in the early 1800s with their cherished patch quilts, the name “Irish Chain” emerged.
Details
- Title
- Double Irish Chain variation quilt
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.74.2
- 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.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.