Spectacular vintage piece featuring Sunflower or Isolated Pickle Dish Vintage Quilt
Spectacular vintage piece featuring Sunflower or Isolated Pickle Dish Vintage Quilt
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This striking quilt is a spectacular vintage piece featuring a pattern most traditionally known as the Sunflower (or sometimes classified as a Harvest Sun or an isolated Pickle Dish variant). Measures 59x77. Some wear as noted in the pictures, some of the polka dot centers have worn through - tiny dots which actually compliments the pattern. Very unique and hard to find pattern.
It is an incredibly graphic, beautifully preserved piece of textile history. Here is a breakdown of its pattern, layout, and distinctive fabric choices:
1. The Pattern: A Spiked Ring Motif
While it shares construction techniques with the famous Double Wedding Ring, this pattern is distinct because the blocks do not interlock:
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The Rings: Each block contains a single, self-contained circle constructed from alternating segments of solid pink and a deep burgundy print.
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The Spikes: Radiating outward from each ring are sharp, green triangular points. This "spiked" look is what transforms a standard ring pattern into a stylized Sunflower or sunburst motif.
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The Center: The inside of each ring features a curved, four-pointed melon center in sage green, creating a lovely frame of white negative space around it.
2. The Graphic Sashing and Borders
What makes this quilt particularly dynamic is how the maker chose to frame the blocks:
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The Triple Sashing: Instead of plain fabric separating the blocks, the maker used a brilliant triple-band sashing layout. A bold, deep burgundy print forms a cross-grid, which is then flanked by soft pink strips. Where the sashing intersects, it creates a crisp, checkerboard cornerstone effect.
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The Framing Borders: The framing shows a gorgeous multi-layered border. It mimics the sashing with a pink inner border, followed by a wide, solid sage green outer border that anchors the green points of the sunflowers perfectly.
3. The Fabric and Era: Early-to-Mid 20th Century
The fabric selection gives us clues to its age, pointing comfortably to the 1930s or 1940s:
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The Burgundy Print: If you look closely at the dark red sashing and ring segments, it isn't a solid fabric; it is a delicate, small-scale white geometric print on a deep burgundy/wine background. This type of utilitarian dress print was incredibly common in mid-century calicos and feed sacks.
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The Pastels: The solid bubblegum pink and dusty sage green are quintessential colors of the 1930s quilt revival, which favored cheerful, clean pastels to contrast against white backgrounds.
4. Exceptional Hand-Quilting Detail
The depth of the hand-quilting is remarkably dense and skilled.
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