CINTHIA ARSWORTH

This quilt is a variation of the traditional Baltimore album quilt in which blocks were appliquéd to suggest pages from one of the pictorial, remembrance, or autograph albums that were popular in mid-nineteenth century America. Here, where the inspiration was a botanical publication, skilled needlework is combined with the contemporary interest in flower painting and botanical subjects. As in other Baltimore album quilts, many of the flowers are three-dimensional constructions of layers of English and French block- and roller-printed textiles, with baskets "woven" from strips of fabric.