Name/Title
"Crazy" QuiltEntry/Object ID
X.0271Description
Silk and velvet "crazy" patchwork quilt with embroidery. Size 72x55Context
"Crazy" quilting became popular in about 1876, after the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition where many Japanese ceramics and asymmetrical art was on display. Inspired by these exotic designs, Victorian women began incorporating this look into their quilt designs. This sort of pattern was also promoted in popular women's magazines of the day. It is likely that the term "crazy" derives from "crazing", a crackled effect in pottery glazes.
While most Crazy Quilts were patched together with finer materials like silk and velvet and embellished with intricate embroidery, simpler Crazy Quilts were made with cotton fabric and less embroidery.