April

St. Paul Winter Carnival crazy quilt

19th Century quilt featuring fancy piece work and intricate appliqué in satin and beads.

The quilt’s central panel features an appliqué design of the 1888 St. Paul Winter Carnival Ice Palace. Surrounding this are twenty blocks, each a quarter of the size of the central panel, featuring a motif in appliqué or embroidery; themes include The Mikado, the White House, an anchor, flowers and birds. In turn these are surrounded by twenty-four blocks pieced in crazy work, mainly in silks. The quilt is completed by a wide velvet border edged in silk balls.

Acknowledgements: Minnesota Historical Society Collections