Mattie King Stoltzfus from Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, made this quilt for her daughter Lydia S. Renno as a wedding gift. Amish families traditionally referred to such housekeeping presents as “gifts from home,” rather than wedding gifts, as they marked when a child left his or her parents’ home and set up housekeeping. Most of the quilting motifs on this quilt, including the six-pointed center star, feather wreath, pumpkinseeds, and tulips, are standard Amish quilting patterns among Lancaster County Amish. Mrs. Renno may have designed the corner motifs of compotes of fruit and flowers herself. Amish daughters typically assisted their mothers with quilting on their quilts “from home,” although sons—who also received quilts—did not.

Pattern: 
Center Diamond
Maker: 
Mattie King Stoltzfus
Circa
1915
1935
Probably made in
Lancaster County
Pennsylvania
United States
77
76
IQM, Ardis and Robert James Collection
1997.007.0220