The indigo "links" in this Double Irish Chain quilt are a much darker value than the rest of the small squares that form the complex pattern. These extreme and selective areas of value contrast cause those areas to appear to float above the rest of the more evenly valued surface.

Pattern: 
Double Irish Chain
Maker: 
Maker unknown
Circa
1850
1870
Possibly made in
Pennsylvania
United States
95
76
International Quilt Museum, Jonathan Holstein and Gail van der Hoof Collection
2003.003.0015