Name/Title
Sunshine and ShadowsEntry/Object ID
1996.004.001Description
Quilted with black thread, the center of the piece is covered with a cross-hatch design. Diamond shapes with pumpkin seed motifs are quilted on the inner border. The outer border is quilted with feather swags. This quilt was made in Pennsylvania with colors and designs typical of the Amish community in Lancaster County.
The Sunshine and Shadows pattern is also known as Trip Around the World.Context
This quilt was done in Amish style. The Amish community would make full bed size quilts as well as crib quilts, but they did not traditionally make wall hangings such as this. However, in the 1980s, Amish quilts became more mainstream, prompting people to want to copy the style. When the Amish community started to sell quilts to those outside Amish culture, they started making wall hanging sizes because this is what people would buy. These sizes were cheaper and easier to make. This wall hanging shows the marketing rise of Amish styles. We cannot confirm if they were done by someone within the Amish community or someone who simply wanted to copy the Amish style, however black was an uncommon color to use within the Amish community to this extent. The colors and the cotton used help to date this wall hanging between 1985 and 1995. Many books and magazines in the 1980s had sections on how to make your own Amish quilt, including patterns and photos.Collection
Permanent CollectionAcquisition
Accession
1996.004Source or Donor
Merlyn HungerMade/Created
Date made
circa 1994Place
* Untyped Place
PennsylvaniaOther Name
Amish Wall-HangingDimensions
Dimension Description
Overall Quilt DimensionsWidth
41 inLength
41 inColor
Blue, Black, Maroon, PinkProvenance
Notes
Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania is likely where this quilt is from.
