Textile Tobacco Inserts and Premiums; Cigarette Silks, Tobacco Flannels, Cigar Ribbons continued
Small doll quilt top or pillow cover made from "State Flower Girls" cigarette silks.
Quilts and other Textile Household Items made from Tobacco Inserts and Premiums.
American women used these tobacco inserts or premiums to make items for the home, and one of the most unusual, looking back from our point in time, was the quilt. Quilts were made from silks, flannels, cigar ribbons and even the small, relatively thick rugs. While these quilts are seen in all sizes, they are usually small, simple in construction, and tied rather than quilted. That they were small is understandable, since the premiums are usually small and it probably took a good while to collect enough of them to make a quilt. Sometimes larger sized quilts are found, but generally, the large sized quilt is scarce, and this is especially true for the quilt made of silks.
A large quilt that leaves no doubt to this collector's preference, all the silks are flags, from small to large.
Flannel and Rug Quilts
The most popular tobacco premium used in quilts was the flannel. Perhaps this is because generally, the flannels are somewhat larger than the silks. Quilts made with tobacco flannels are found with a variety of colorful designs, but the flannel with the flag design is the one we see used most often. Sometimes quilts contain a variety of flag designs and at other times the quilt maker was careful to use a discriminating selection of flags, as when using only American flags. Other quilts contain a variety of flannel designs, for example, a quilt may contain flag designs along with butterfly designs, and American Indian designs.
Crib sized quilts or throws are the size most often found. We do sometimes see large bed sized quilts made from a variety of flannels, though these are scarce and are a treat to study with all the designs they contain. Doll quilts are sometimes seen, and they are colorful and often made with the less masculine designed flannels, using flannels with butterflies or other fanciful designs.
The most popular tobacco premium used in quilts was the flannel. Perhaps this is because generally, the flannels are somewhat larger than the silks. Quilts made with tobacco flannels are found with a variety of colorful designs, but the flannel with the flag design is the one we see used most often. Sometimes quilts contain a variety of flag designs and at other times the quilt maker was careful to use a discriminating selection of flags, as when using only American flags. Other quilts contain a variety of flannel designs, for example, a quilt may contain flag designs along with butterfly designs, and American Indian designs.
Crib sized quilts or throws are the size most often found. We do sometimes see large bed sized quilts made from a variety of flannels, though these are scarce and are a treat to study with all the designs they contain. Doll quilts are sometimes seen, and they are colorful and often made with the less masculine designed flannels, using flannels with butterflies or other fanciful designs.
Flannel flags sewn on black background.
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A close-up showing some of the many subjects of the small flannels and rugs.
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The flannel quilts are usually simple in construction, often flannels are sewn edge to edge, and seldom have alternate squares of fabric or sashing to separate the flannels. When alternating squares or sashing strips are used, the fabric is often a solid black, perhaps because it would coordinate better with the busy designs. Sometimes we see embroidery embellishment used on these quilts, the stitches covering the seams as it does in many crazy quilts. Flannel quilts can be heavy, and are usually tied, but occasionally they are batted and quilted.
The small rugs are seldom used alone, but are seen, used in conjunction with the flannels in quilts. The texture of the rugs can be similar to the texture of the flannels, and sewn into a quilt, they are often difficult to distinguish from the flannels, with similar designs and coloring. The thickness of the rugs would make stitching difficult, certainly only the most dedicated quilter would try and quilt through these rugs. While they are often found along side flannels in quilts, they are seldom found used in quilts along with the silks, which are very different in weight and texture.
The small rugs are seldom used alone, but are seen, used in conjunction with the flannels in quilts. The texture of the rugs can be similar to the texture of the flannels, and sewn into a quilt, they are often difficult to distinguish from the flannels, with similar designs and coloring. The thickness of the rugs would make stitching difficult, certainly only the most dedicated quilter would try and quilt through these rugs. While they are often found along side flannels in quilts, they are seldom found used in quilts along with the silks, which are very different in weight and texture.
Cigarette Silk Quilts
Silks were also used to make quilts, and again the majority of quilts are small. Since the size of most cigarette silks is about 1 ½ x 2 ½ it would take a considerable effort to gather enough silks to make a large quilt. We find most cigarette silk quilts in small, doll or crib sizes, with the doll quilt perhaps the most popular size. Even this small size takes a large collection of the small silks. Small quilts are found made with beautiful silks, often designs with women, flowers, butterflies, and are all the more lovely for the diminutive size of the silks.
Silks were also used to make quilts, and again the majority of quilts are small. Since the size of most cigarette silks is about 1 ½ x 2 ½ it would take a considerable effort to gather enough silks to make a large quilt. We find most cigarette silk quilts in small, doll or crib sizes, with the doll quilt perhaps the most popular size. Even this small size takes a large collection of the small silks. Small quilts are found made with beautiful silks, often designs with women, flowers, butterflies, and are all the more lovely for the diminutive size of the silks.
Quilt made of silks in several designs and sizes.
When we do see full sized quilts they often contain hundreds of silks.
Larger full sized quilts when found are wonderful in their collections of silks. Often the quilt maker placed a larger silk, or collection of larger silks, as the center emphasis of the quilt top. Usually the larger sized, scarce, silk premiums used in the center, are surrounded by smaller silks that make up the rest of the quilt top. The quilts are often made with a variety of designs, and silks with flowers, actresses, queens, butterflies, flags, and military officers and medals, are displayed side by side. Again like the flannel quilt, these quilts are usually tied, but sometimes they are batted and quilted.
Close-up of the large quilt at the top of this article, previous page, showing the center made of large silks.
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One of the silks in the center of quilt at left.
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Sometimes tobacco silks are found in quilts like the silk crazy quilts. At other times silks in quilts that are thought to be tobacco inserts, may actually be silks from advertisement trade cards or silk ads issued by other manufacturers. Fabrics printed with tobacco advertisement or designs similar to tobacco cards like actresses or other popular personalities of the day may be found in quilts and mistaken for tobacco inserts. It takes a careful study of the history of tobacco inserts and premiums to distinguish these other silks in quilts.
Small quilt made from flag silks and embellished with embroidery.
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Small quilt with applied flag silks.
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Silk Cigar Ribbon Quilts
Perhaps the most rare of these tobacco novelty quilts is the cigar ribbon quilt. The ribbons are narrow, as previously noted, about ¾ inches wide. Making a quilt from these ribbons requires gathering hundreds of them together. While cigars were the number one tobacco product used at the time, it must have taken years to collect enough ribbons to make a textile of any considerable size. Cigar ribbon manufacturers encouraged the collecting of the ribbons and even offered ribbons for sale to aid the homemaker in gathering enough ribbons for her project. Manufacturers or other dealers may have also offered kits to make pillows and small quilts, the kit including a muslin background marked with a pattern layout and a large supply of the cigar ribbons. Ads can be found in magazines of the period offering cigar ribbons for sale.
Cigar ribbon quilts are usually small crib sized pieces. It is often difficult to identify the original purpose of these items, and distinguishing between quilts, throws, and table covers, can be impossible.
Large silk cigar ribbons quilt, again with hundreds of ribbons, in many colors.
In making one of these quilts, the ribbons were placed side by side and stitched down, and were usually sewn down onto a foundation fabric.
Since the ribbons are narrow and short in length, makers of these items used the ribbons in unique ways, sewing the ribbons together in various configurations of squares, diamonds and triangles to make up the top of the quilt. Ribbons are sometimes interlaced to give a checkerboard effect, or sometimes pieces are embellished with embroidery, often black, in stitching similar to crazy quilt stitching.
Cigar ribbons bare the name of their manufacturer and it can be interesting to note the use of the names in arranging the ribbons. The names sometimes become an important element in the design, and are carefully placed and arranged on the piece. At other times the names seem secondary and of no importance, being seemingly ignored in the design. Sometimes, but rarely, entire pieces are made with one brand of cigar. More often a variety of cigar brands are used. Colored ribbons are not often found, and items sporting a rainbow of colored ribbons are rare.
Silk cigar ribbons quilt made from dozens of ribbons in a variety of colors and designed with the typical diamonds and with triangles filling in the corners.
Cigar ribbon pieces are often trimmed with fringe or buttonhole embroidery stitches around the edges. Backs are often silk or sateen fabrics in black or gold. They seldom contain batting, nor are they quilted, being held to the backing with ties or straight stitching.
Full sized quilts are rare, but when found are often complicated designs, made in many sections, probably necessarily so, because of the narrowness and short lengths of the ribbons.
Twelve bathing beauty silks make up this patriotic pillow top, made in red, white, and blue with a ruffle around the edge.
Pillows
Since they were small in size, and perhaps thought of as more easily made, the sofa pillow or cushion, as they were sometimes called, are the most often found article made from textile tobacco inserts and premiums. These pillows could be made with a reasonably sized collection of inserts, and often pillows are found with matched sets of designs or even entire series of designs. Pillows are often trimmed with fancy rope trim or ruffles. Often pillow tops that were never made into pillows are found, with the tobacco textiles still colorful and strong, having been stored away and never used.
Since they were small in size, and perhaps thought of as more easily made, the sofa pillow or cushion, as they were sometimes called, are the most often found article made from textile tobacco inserts and premiums. These pillows could be made with a reasonably sized collection of inserts, and often pillows are found with matched sets of designs or even entire series of designs. Pillows are often trimmed with fancy rope trim or ruffles. Often pillow tops that were never made into pillows are found, with the tobacco textiles still colorful and strong, having been stored away and never used.
The most often encountered tobacco insert or premium used for pillows is the cigarette silk. Women were encouraged to gather the silks and make sofa pillows or cushions for the home. Averaging about 20 inches in size, the pillow top can be made with a small collection of silks. When we find these pillows today they are often minus their stuffing, and sometimes have even been separated from their backing. Perhaps they are separated and removed because the weight of the added cotton batting can cause stress to the delicate silks. It is sometimes difficult to decide whether these small pieces made from cigarette silks are doll quilts or pillow tops.
Silks on this pillow case are embellished with embroidery.
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Perhaps the most often found cigar ribbon item is the pillow. This one is enhanced with a ruffle in matching silk.
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Tobacco flannels were used occasionally to make pillow tops or covers. These often have backing and buttonhole embroidery along the outside edges.
Cigar silks pillows, are the most rare of the pillows. They can be unique designs made with interwoven ribbons and embellished with embroidery. Pillows are certainly the most often found of the cigar ribbon textiles, the larger quilts as noted above, are rare.
Designed by illustrator Hamilton King, these silks show bathing beauties at popular US beaches.
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Rectangular shaped small pillow of cigar silks.
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Table Cloths and Coverings
Table coverings are often confused with quilts and throws, because they are sized similarly, and often they are made in the same way the quilts were. Sometimes one can tell by the design, but other times it is only the choice of trim or the presence, or absence, of the backing, that gives us a clue, as to whether the item is a quilt or table cover.
Table cover, with black background.
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Long table runner or mantle scarf made of cigar silks, and trimmed with lace.
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Personal Items
Tobacco premiums were used to make other articles like purses or reticules, and even articles of clothing. Men’s smoking jackets and robes have been seen made of cigar ribbons, appropriately perhaps, since men smoked the cigars. This writer has even seen slippers made with the cigar ribbons.
Tobacco premiums were used to make other articles like purses or reticules, and even articles of clothing. Men’s smoking jackets and robes have been seen made of cigar ribbons, appropriately perhaps, since men smoked the cigars. This writer has even seen slippers made with the cigar ribbons.
Small gathered bag made from silks.
Conclusion
The textile tobacco insert or premium was unique among the tobacco advertisement giveaways. The practice of using these textiles as inserts was initiated in an effort to encourage their collecting among women, thereby boosting the sales of the advertised tobacco manufacturer. This practice may also have been an effort to entice women into smoking at a time when competition for business between the tobacco companies was fierce. Though the practice of giving away these textiles in tobacco products, which sometimes cost more than the product itself, was understandably short lived, we now, almost one hundred years later, still find these textiles sewn into quilts and other household articles. These unusual, tobacco related quilts and household textile items are another wonderful example of women endeavoring to make their homes a more comfortable and attractive place to live.
Laurette Carroll
Quilt Historian and Collector, and Quilt Maker, living in California.
Quilts and other items from the collection of Laurette Carroll
Photographs and article by Laurette Carroll and Copyright 2005, 2015
To read more about tobacco collectibles see the following:
Gerard Petrone M.D., The Great Seduction.
Frank Doggett, Cigarette Cards and Novelties.
Louis Storino, Chewing Tobacco Tin Tags.
Robert Forbes and Terence Mitchell, American Tobacco Cards.
J. R. Burdick, The American Card Catalog.
Gerard Petrone, Cigar Box Labels.
Robert K. Heimann, Tobacco and Americans.
And the following by Tony Hyman:
Handbook of Cigar Boxes
Also see his museums web site at http://cigarhistory.info/Site/NCM_HOME.html
For additional information on quilts and other textiles made with Tobacco Premiums see the following:
Article by Ethel Abrams and Rachel Pannabecker titled “Better Choose Me”: Addictions to Tobacco Collecting, and Quilting, 1880 – 1920, Volume 21 of the Research Papers of the American Quilt Study Group, Uncoverings 2000.
Article titled “When the Smoke Cleared”, by Dorothy Cozart.
The Quilt Digest, number 5, 1987.
I would like to thank collectors Kenneth Silverman, Tony Hyman and Ethel Abrams for sharing their extensive knowledge with me.
The textile tobacco insert or premium was unique among the tobacco advertisement giveaways. The practice of using these textiles as inserts was initiated in an effort to encourage their collecting among women, thereby boosting the sales of the advertised tobacco manufacturer. This practice may also have been an effort to entice women into smoking at a time when competition for business between the tobacco companies was fierce. Though the practice of giving away these textiles in tobacco products, which sometimes cost more than the product itself, was understandably short lived, we now, almost one hundred years later, still find these textiles sewn into quilts and other household articles. These unusual, tobacco related quilts and household textile items are another wonderful example of women endeavoring to make their homes a more comfortable and attractive place to live.
Laurette Carroll
Quilt Historian and Collector, and Quilt Maker, living in California.
Quilts and other items from the collection of Laurette Carroll
Photographs and article by Laurette Carroll and Copyright 2005, 2015
To read more about tobacco collectibles see the following:
Gerard Petrone M.D., The Great Seduction.
Frank Doggett, Cigarette Cards and Novelties.
Louis Storino, Chewing Tobacco Tin Tags.
Robert Forbes and Terence Mitchell, American Tobacco Cards.
J. R. Burdick, The American Card Catalog.
Gerard Petrone, Cigar Box Labels.
Robert K. Heimann, Tobacco and Americans.
And the following by Tony Hyman:
Handbook of Cigar Boxes
Also see his museums web site at http://cigarhistory.info/Site/NCM_HOME.html
For additional information on quilts and other textiles made with Tobacco Premiums see the following:
Article by Ethel Abrams and Rachel Pannabecker titled “Better Choose Me”: Addictions to Tobacco Collecting, and Quilting, 1880 – 1920, Volume 21 of the Research Papers of the American Quilt Study Group, Uncoverings 2000.
Article titled “When the Smoke Cleared”, by Dorothy Cozart.
The Quilt Digest, number 5, 1987.
I would like to thank collectors Kenneth Silverman, Tony Hyman and Ethel Abrams for sharing their extensive knowledge with me.
