The Museum

Current Exhibition

Contemporary Broderie Perse: An Elegant Revival

July 15 - October 17

Contemporary Broderie Perse: An Elegant Revival, features modern-day interpretations of some of the most detailed, finely-wrought quilts in the American tradition.

Combining collage, fine appliqué, and fine quilting, broderie perse, also known as cut-out chintz appliqué, presents a high point in the art of quilting and deserves the admiration and attention of all who appreciate fine needlework.  The technique emerged in the late eighteenth century when chintz fabrics were very expensive and only the very wealthy could afford whole cloth bed coverings made from large pieces of chintz.  By cutting motifs out of a small amount of fabric, the quilter could rearrange them onto a large field of inexpensive plain cotton to imitate the designs on larger fabrics.  Plain cream or white fields filled by fine quilting surround the trees, floral sprays, wreaths, urns, birds, and baskets appliquéd with tiny whip, buttonhole, or reverse buttonhole stitches.  The style, which was very popular in the Middle Atlantic States and the South into the 1840s, largely disappeared after the 1850s. The exhibition, curated by Anita B. Loscalzo, presents 30 contemporary broderie perse quilts and several antique examples in order to familiarize viewers with the style and its history. 

During the Lowell Quilt Festival, Thursday August 12 through Saturday, August 14, she will give gallery talks every day at 2pm.  In addition, noted quilt artist Barbara W. Barber, whose work is featured in the exhibition, will present a retrospective trunk show of her work, including many of her most noted Broderie Perse pieces, on Sunday, September 12, at 1pm. Contemporary Broderie Perse: An Elegant Revival will run from July 15 through October 17, 2010.

Support for this exhibition is provided in part by Marcus Fabrics.

Learn More About Broderie Perse in the NEQM Library:

Our library staff has created a list of books in our library that will help you learn more about broderie perse, as well as the history of sewing tools. For the complete list, click here. And, stop by our library to enjoy these and other quilting titles.

Image: Tree of Life by Barbara W. Barber. Photo by Lisa Bisson.