Color in Antique Quilts continued.
Red
Turkey Red was one of the most stable colors in both solid and printed fabrics. There were hundreds (thousands?) of Turkey Red prints made during the 1800's. However Turkey Reds were the result of a lengthy and costly printing process, and other red fabrics printed with easier to use madder dye processes, while not as brilliant as the Turkey Reds, were also considered stable and were often used.
Many different Turkey Red prints were used in this Chimney Sweep quilt top. Reds are still vibrant and unfaded in this unused top. C1850.
Another Turkey Red quilt, this time the red is used in the popular Red and Green combination of the period.
An applique quilt top with many different Turkey Red prints. c1850
Madder reds are not quite as brilliant as Turkey Reds, but they can still be beautiful and the softer red often blends better with the other fabrics of the period.
A floral quilt in Madder red and green with yellow accents, c1880.
A Fluer de Lis applique quilt in Madder reds, c1850.
Solomon's Puzzle quilt in Madder red and Lancaster blue, c1880.
The Madder red print used in the alternate blocks in this c1880 quilt sets off the unusual sawtooth type blocks
Madder red stars set with yellow, pop on this c1860 star quilt.
Green
fabric in antique quilts is usually the result of a process using a combination of a yellow dye with a blue dyed over it, or the opposite, blue overdyed with yellow. The result can be varied, more one color than the other, and often one color has faded more than the other leaving a color leaning towards yellow or blue..
fabric in antique quilts is usually the result of a process using a combination of a yellow dye with a blue dyed over it, or the opposite, blue overdyed with yellow. The result can be varied, more one color than the other, and often one color has faded more than the other leaving a color leaning towards yellow or blue..
An applique quilt, c1840, with the green fabric still bright. The blue is fading leaving the green leaning towards a yellow green.
The combination of red and green fabric was the number one choice of quilters when making floral applique quilts in the 19th century. The reliability and colorfastness of Turkey red and the overdyed green fabrics was a good choice as even today, the colors are still true in many of these antique quilts.
Applique quilt where the overdyed green fabricis are still nice and bright with little fading. c1870
Whig Rose appliqued quilt with overdyed green and Turkey Red fabrics, c1850.
Orange
in antique quilts is not as common as some of the other colors, but that's not to say it's rare. It is seen in prints as a double print, as an accent color as part of the print design, and sometimes a solid color fabric is used.
in antique quilts is not as common as some of the other colors, but that's not to say it's rare. It is seen in prints as a double print, as an accent color as part of the print design, and sometimes a solid color fabric is used.
Chimney Sweep quilt, c1850. The blocks are divided with a diamond pieced sashing made with a double orange print.
Snow Flake patterned quilt, 1850, with orange fabrics in blocks.
Hexagons in a setting of stars and rosettes using bright fabrics cover this quilt top c1850. Orange fabric used in the centers brings out the orange in the other fabrics.
Purple
fabric in antique quilts is also not common. Most of the naturally dyed purples were prone to fading to a brown color. Purple found in unused quilts and quilt tops, may still retain their beautiful color.
fabric in antique quilts is also not common. Most of the naturally dyed purples were prone to fading to a brown color. Purple found in unused quilts and quilt tops, may still retain their beautiful color.
This Periwinkle patterned quilt, c1875, contains several purple fabrics.
This unused quilt top, c1850, has several purple fabrics, some fading to a brownish color.
The purple in this quilt, c1890, is still bright, possibly a synthetic dye available at the time this top was made.
Thanks for visiting, I hope you've enjoyed the colorful quilts shared here.
Laurette Carroll
Quilt historian, quilt collector, and quilt maker and designer from California.
Quilts used in this article are from the collection of Laurette Carroll.
Photos are by Laurette Carroll.
Copyright September 2016
