Antique President's Wreath Appliquéd Quilt, circa 1890–1910 — approximately 115–135 years old.
Measures 77" x 79"
Gorgeous antique quilt in turkey red and white — one of the most beloved and enduring patterns in the entire tradition of American folk textiles. Bold. Flowing. Still alive with color after more than a century.
The Design
A sweeping vine winds gracefully across the surface in the classic President's Wreath tradition — bearing large rounded five-petal blooms in deep turkey red, set among elongated leaves in a soft warm tan — all hand appliquéd onto a crisp white cotton ground.
Those stems and leaves — originally sewn in green — have transformed beautifully over more than a century into a warm, mellow neutral tan. A classic hallmark of period dye chemistry that serious collectors immediately recognize as a mark of true age and authenticity. Far from a flaw, this color migration is one of the most sought-after characteristics in antique appliqué quilts today.
Construction
Hand appliquéd • Hand quilted • All cotton
- Turkey red cotton — Rose of Sharon blooms
- Originally green, now aged to warm neutral tan — stems & leaves
- White cotton ground & backing
- White blanket/buttonhole stitch — hand worked around every appliquéd piece
- Red cotton binding, hand stitched
Dense, fine hand quilting covers the entire surface — even and consistent throughout, including around and through the appliquéd elements.
The blanket stitch edging on each flower and leaf is a hallmark of the turn-of-the-century appliqué tradition — decorative, precise, and time-consuming. The work of a maker who took pride in every inch.
Condition
Good antique condition. Please review all photos carefully.
- Turkey red bold and vivid throughout
- All appliqué fully intact
- Blanket stitch edging intact on flowers and leaves
- Hand quilting intact across entire surface
- Clean, presentable, and display-ready
- Wear to red binding consistent with age and use
- Age toning consistent with period
- Minor scattered light wear consistent with a textile of this age
Age wear is honest and expected. This quilt displays beautifully.
About Antique Quilts
Signs of age — wear, fading, or light spotting — are not flaws. They are the honest marks of a textile made, used, and loved across generations.
Even better in person than the photos suggest. A serious collector piece and a genuine showstopper.
