The Kent State University Museum opens two textile exhibitions on June 26 in observance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. “Quilts and Coverlets: Art for the American Home” examines 14 figured coverlets and five quilts from the museum’s collection, tracing the roles of domestic labor and industrial technology in 19th-century American textile production. “Chintz: From Forbidden Fabric to Luxury Interiors,” a student-curated companion exhibition, follows the global history of chintz textiles and their influence on American design.

Among the objects on display is the Keckley quilt, attributed to Elizabeth Keckley, the formerly enslaved personal dressmaker to first lady Mary Todd Lincoln. The quilt is said to incorporate fabric from Lincoln’s garments and features motifs including eagles and symbols of liberty.

“As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, these exhibitions create new opportunities to explore American history and culture through the museum’s collections,” said museum director Sarah Spinner. Sara Hume, curator and professor at the museum, organized “Quilts and Coverlets,” while Collections Fellow and graduate student Olivia Carpenter curated “Chintz.”

Source: https://www.kent.edu/museum/news/kent-state-university-museum-presents-two-textile-exhibitions-mark-americas-250th