Whitework quilts, found throughout much of the 19th century, were very fashionable between 1815 and 1850. Quilted or embroidered imagery -- including cornucopias, urns or baskets of flowers, and feathered wreaths -- as well as the stark white was in keeping with a Neoclassical design aesthetic. White, very difficult to keep clean, signified a high level of cleanliness and the wealth to keep it clean.