Quilts at the American Museum & Gardens

A selection of over 50 quilts, each beautifully illustrated with stunning photography that celebrates the unique stories, the skill and the artistry of these textiles.

The American Museum’s collection of more than 250 quilts, ranging from the 18th to mid-20th centuries, is acclaimed as the finest of its type in Europe and the equal of many premier collections in the United States. Examples include early whole-cloth quilts, pieced and appliquéd work, Hawaiian and Amish quilts, and the African-American quilts of Gee’s Bend. Over 50 quilts and their unique stories are included in this new publication. Each entry is beautifully illustrated with stunning photography that celebrates the skill and artistry of these textiles. The selection includes celebrated favorites and new Museum acquisitions that have never been published before. Accompanying the individual quilt entries is an introductory essay that tells the story of how this remarkable Museum was established and the world-class quilt collection was formed.

The Focusseries is a celebration of an institution’s chosen area of strength, appealing to the visitor interested in that specific area as well as a wider audience seeking out collections of their favoured genre.

Katherine Hebert is the Chief Curator at the American Museum & Gardens. Her responsibilities include the care and presentation of over 12,000 collection items of American decorative arts within a Grade I-listed building. As a keen quilter in her spare time, the opportunity to work with the outstanding collection of 250 world renowned American quilts at the Museum is particularly appealing. She is the co-author of Classic Quilts at the American Museum (Scala, 2010).