Star of Bethlehem

Textile

-

The Virginia Quilt Museum

Name/Title

Star of Bethlehem

Entry/Object ID

1998.002.001

Description

This quilt consists of 16 blocks pieced in the Star of Bethlehem pattern also known as the Carpenters Wheel. The pattern is created using diamond shaped pieces forming a ring around an eight-pointed star. The blocks, measuring approximately 16 inches square are placed on point and alternated with plain blocks of the same size. Colors used are light and dark shades of blue, brown, tan and pink. The background and backing are an off white. The 3 1/2" border repeats the diamond shapes and all of the print fabrics creating a zig-zag effect. The edging is a very narrow 1/8" formed by rolling the backing fabric to the front. Construction is by hand piecing and hand quilting done at 5-7 stitches per inch. The quilting design included straight lines stitched four together in a 5/8" space crosshatched in the plain blocks. The pattern is altered to two lines together in the pieced blocks. In the center near one edge is quilted the date "1827" and the name, "Abigail Coffman". In each corner an elaborate eagle is quilted; one incorporates two six pointed stars under the wings. There is a thin cotton batting.

Context

Abigail Lincoln Coffman quilted this in 1827 in Rockingham County, Virginia. She was the cousin of President Abraham Lincoln, who was the son of a Virginian and had relatives in the Shenandoah region.

Collection

Permanent Collection

Acquisition

Accession

1998.002

Source or Donor

Green Valley Auctions, Inc.

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Notes

("Framed" photo of maker in file folder, may need to be accessioned)

Made/Created

Artist

Abigail Lincoln Coffman

Date made

1827

Place

* Untyped Place

Rockingham County, Virginia

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Embroidery, Quilted

Location

Bottom Center

Transcription

"1827" "Abigail Coffman"

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall Quilt Dimensions

Width

99-1/2 in

Length

96 in

Dimension Description

Individual Block Dimensison

Width

16 in

Length

16 in

Dimension Notes

16 Total Blocks

Materials

Material

Cotton

Material Notes

Prints and solids

Color

Blue, Brown, Tan, Pink, Cream

Condition

Notes

Brown Fabric still deteriorating, staining really bad on back - fold

Overall Condition

Fair

Notes

One-inch hole, two-inch tear on edge, several stains, several areas if discoloration, brown fabric is deteriorating