Adeline Harris Sears
Hello Monday!
In 1856, Adeline Harris, the 17-year-old daughter of a prosperous mill owner in Rhode Island, embarked on a remarkable quilting project. She initiated a global endeavor by sending small diamond-shaped pieces of white silk to individuals she held in high regard, considered the most influential figures of her era. Her request was simple: she asked each recipient to sign the silk and send it back to her.
As the signed silks started to return, Adeline possessed an extraordinary collection of autographs. These autographs included those of eight American presidents, prominent figures from the realms of science, religion, and education, Civil War heroes, renowned authors such as Charles Dickens and Ralph Waldo Emerson, and a diverse group of celebrated artists.
This meticulously crafted "tumbling-blocks" patterned quilt showcases these historic signatures today. It offers a captivating glimpse into the perspective of an educated young woman living in the mid-19th century and how she perceived her world.
Amazing, isn't it? This abstract pattern created in the mid-19th century left me breathless. If you like abstract art or would like to learn more about it, please check our Cubism 101 course on DailyArt Courses.
P.S. Harriet Powers was another accomplished American quilt maker. Born with a slave status and later emancipated, she created extraordinary works filled with spiritualism. For more on textile art see the articles below!