This African American quilt from the rural South adheres to many of the characteristics of “Africanisms” put forth by scholars that suggested black quiltmakers utilized an African design sensibility featuring asymmetry, bright highly contrasting colors, and improvisation, among other things. Many African American quilts from the rural South do adhere to these traits. 

Pattern: 
Axe Bit
Maker: 
Rita Marshbanks
Circa
1920
Made in
Gordo
Alabama
United States
71.5
74
IQM, Robert and Helen Cargo Collection
2000.004.0059