Antique Chimney Sweep Pattern Quilt

The “Chimney Sweep” pattern seems to have emerged in the US during the 1840s. Actually an interesting variant in red and white of this 1840s pattern. This example is circa 1880s to the turn of the 20th century and entirely hand-stitched.

An interesting variant on the theme in which the diagonally oriented points of individual blocks touch, thereby turning the bed cover into an overall lattice composition with large fields of white.

In order to make this possible, the outermost corners of individual blocks needed to be either folded under or, as in this case, trimmed (visible in photo of the back).

Entirely hand sewn and quilted.

Found in the Mohawk Valley region, New York State.