Object Details
Culture
American
Date
1884
Medium
Satin, silk velvet, corduroy, beads, and paintPieced, embroidered, appliquéd, and hand-painted; unquilted
Dimensions
Approx.: 65 × 60 inches (165.1 × 152.4 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Etsuko Terasaki
Object
Number
2013.050.001
The quilt pattern most closely associated with optical illusions is the Tumbling Block. This and oth(…)
The quilt pattern most closely associated with optical illusions is the Tumbling Block. This and other illusory patterns began to develop from the mid-nineteenth century onward. By manipulating diamond shapes to form a three-sided cube, a three-dimensional effect is brought to life with color shading—the dark fabrics on the outside, and the medium and lighter colors alternating on the other sides. With no borders or grids separating the blocks, they seem to tumble down the surface of the quilt. This quilt features Baby Blocks framed by a scalloped crazy quilt border. The use of brilliant colors accented by black creates a visual spectacle. The date the quilt was made (1884) is embroidered on the back.
