Sampler Quilt, about 1885
Cottons
Possibly New York
79 x 68 in.
Collection of Eleanor Bingham Miller L2010.42.5

This quilt's blocks include both traditional patterns and unique creations. Several blocks consist of images cut from printed fabrics and stitched in place, a collage-like technique known as broderie perse. Several different quilters produced the blocks, adding a social dimension to the quilt's creation. Names or initials appear in a few blocks, including the name "Alfred Beauclere." Looking at census records from the period, the name "Beauclere" (also spelled "Beauclair") had strong connections to French Canada and often appeared in border areas like upstate New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire.