Pieced quilt (Pinwheel)
1840 (pieced); 1849
Medium
Decorative Arts-Fiber
Classification
Decorative Arts-Fiber
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Patricia S. Smith
Accession Number
1998.149.28
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 19th-century domestic artistry with *Pieced Quilt (Pinwheel)*, by Caroline Miller. Pieced in 1840 and completed around 1849, this artwork showcases the meticulous technique of patchwork quilting, where small fabric scraps are precisely cut and sewn into intricate designs. The vibrant Pinwheel pattern evokes spinning motion, a popular motif symbolizing energy and continuity in quiltmaking traditions. Quilts like this were more than bedcovers; they embodied resourcefulness and community in rural America. Women like Miller transformed worn textiles into functional beauty, ...