Antique Mariner's Compass Quilt: 1870s-1890s; Double Sawtooth Border with Feather Quilting (86x91")

This is a lively Mariner's Compass Quilt with Double Sawtooth Border and feather quilting, circa 1870s-1890. The piecing and hand-quilting on this quilt are exquisite. There are no sharper points in quilting than those in the central suns of this quilt and they are in every way perfect as are all of the points that cascade precisely from the center. The result is an exuberant work of art with tiny, hand-stitched quilting in feathers, triple diagonals and diamonds that are less than 1/2 inch wide.

The red circles and leaves have been hand-appliqued.

The back is a white muslin while the binding is a very narrow red cotton that has been machine stitched to the front and hand-stitched to the back. The cotton batting is very lightweight.

The quilt is in very good, antique condition with some age-related issues, including fraying of the binding, overall fading of the fabrics, some tan marks on one green triangle at one border, and several dark lines along the border that appear to be pencil lines. There is also some fabric loss in several of the red triangles (see photos).

The quilt measures 86 inches by 91 inches and comes from a smoke-free and pet-free home. Shown on a queen-size bed.