Items Similar to 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' - quilt - Negro Spirituals - figurative textile
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6
Wendell George Brown'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' - quilt - Negro Spirituals - figurative textile2003
2003
$100,000
£76,045.59
€87,714.90
CA$140,081.70
A$156,779.10
CHF 81,863.16
MX$1,912,714.20
NOK 1,039,145.40
SEK 986,085
DKK 655,013.40
Shipping
Retrieving quote...The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation
About the Item
Columbia, South Carolina-based artist, Wendell George Brown creates quilts that explore the traditions of African American quilt-making and Negro Spirituals. After finding a hymnal book that belonged to his maternal grandmother, “Everlasting Life is Free,” he sang the words aloud, “I was surprisingly comforted. Transfixed on the rhythmical vibration of the sound, I visualized each word; pieced, bound, and stitched together as a cover protecting a mournful soul.”
This epiphany allowed Wendell to see the synergy between quilts and Negro Spirituals, and to examine how the two mediums served as a source of protection for generations of enslaved and free Black people through the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. His work embraces the folk art genre, because folk art’s “outsider” status often serves to recognize the voice of the voiceless. “My goal is to make sense of Social-cultural issues,” says Wendell. “I hope all viewers see themselves in my work, and our shared desire to be heard, recognized, and treated with human dignity.”
As an educator at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta in the early 90s, he became enamored with a soft-sculpture installation on view by American artist Faith Ringgold titled "Wake and Resurrection of the Bicentennial Negro.” Later as Ringgold's assistant in New York, he began experimenting with the quilt, black fabric, and iconography as a source to investigate the African American "Veil of Double Consciousness," a subject explored by scholar W.E.B. Du Bois in a book of collected essays titled “The Souls of Black Folk.”
Inspired by traditional African art, the figures in his early quilted works did not have feet. In traditional African sculpture, this symbolized staying in one place to learn a lesson. Once you gained knowledge, you grew feet to move forward on the journey. In many ways, his work reflects his life lessons and of the artists that Wendell has met, worked with, and studied - especially John Biggers, Elizabeth Catlet, and William H. Johnson.
A Virginia native, Wendell George Brown is an Associate Professor of Art and Director of the Henry Ponder Gallery at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. In addition, Brown currently serves as a Commissioner at the Columbia Museum of Art, and has served as Assistant Director of the Boyden Gallery at St. Mary's College of Maryland and Director of Museum Education at Hampton University in Virginia.
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Professional Seller
Every seller passes strict standards for authenticity and reliability
Established in 2003
1stDibs seller since 2015
134 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 19 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Atlanta, GA
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View All'Bound for the Promised Land' - quilt - Negro Spiritual - figurative textile
Located in Atlanta, GA
Columbia, South Carolina-based artist, Wendell George Brown creates quilts that explore the traditions of African American quilt-making and Negro Spirit...
Category
2010s Folk Art Mixed Media
Materials
Fabric, Acrylic
'The Joyous Farewell into the Future' - quilt - Negro Spirituals - figures
Located in Atlanta, GA
Columbia, South Carolina-based artist, Wendell George Brown creates quilts that explore the traditions of African American quilt-making and Negro Spirit...
Category
2010s Folk Art Mixed Media
Materials
Fabric, Acrylic
Mother's First Cousin Returning Home to Georgia After Visiting Us for a Week
Located in Atlanta, GA
Columbia, South Carolina-based artist, Wendell George Brown creates quilts that explore the traditions of African American quilt-making and Negro Spirit...
Category
2010s Folk Art Mixed Media
Materials
Fabric, Acrylic
'Looking out' - contemporary fiber art, texture, pattern, abstract, tufting
By Trish Andersen
Located in Atlanta, GA
This abstract tufted work features hues of yellow, blue, red, and green.
Trish Andersen is inspired by the work of Shelia Hicks, Cy Twombly, Judith Scott and Nick Cave.
Savannah-ba...
Category
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Materials
Wool, Yarn
'Now is Never Again' - contemporary fiber art, pattern, abstract, colorful
By Trish Andersen
Located in Atlanta, GA
This abstract tufted work features hues of yellow, blue, red, and green.
Trish Andersen is inspired by the work of Shelia Hicks, Cy Twombly, Judith Scott and Nick Cave.
Savannah-ba...
Category
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Materials
Wool, Yarn
"Drawn In" - contemporary fiber art - tufting - drape - Trompe-l'œil - Hicks
By Trish Andersen
Located in Atlanta, GA
"Drawn In" is a trompe-l'œil tufted fiber work featuring hues of blue, green, red, yellow and pink.
Trish Andersen is inspired by the work of Shelia Hicks...
Category
2010s Abstract Mixed Media
Materials
Canvas, Yarn
You May Also Like
Mennonite Touching Stars Quilt
Located in Darnestown, MD
This Mennonite Touching Stars quilt clearly reflects the Victorian era in which it was made. The stars are made of totally irregular pieces simila...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Quilts
Materials
Wool
Antique Mennonite American Quilt. 5 ft 3 in x 5 ft 6 in
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and rare antique American Mennonite quilt, country of origin: America, circa 1860. Size: 5 ft 3 in x 5 ft 6 in (1.6 m x 1.68 m)
This rare, Mennonite antique America quilt from the 1860’s is a real treasure, as there are few that have survived. The Mennonites are a branch of the Amish community that broke off in the 1860’s over disagreements with the Old Order Amish. The Amish are a group of Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants to America who are known for adherence to strict religious beliefs and conservative views. Their women are notably known for their skill in quilt making.
This brightly colored quilt is in what is known as the log cabin pattern. The squares are made from strips of fabric stacked in a way similar to the stacking of logs used to make a log home. This particular arrangement of colors is known as “streak of lightening” and is a popular Mennonite design. This pattern alternates light and dark diagonal rows of color. The border creates a whimsical frame to the pattern.
These magnificent antique American quilts were often made from scraps or clothing that had worn out its usefulness. The Mennonites were known for their thriftiness and traditions that emphasized gratitude for the gifts one had been given. These designs were not haphazard and required tremendous amounts of planning and thought.
The scraps would be collected and then the colors would be arranged. Finally, the pieces would be cut and stitched together with precision to make a top. Next a fluffy, warm stuffing would be sandwiched between a backing and the top. This would be hand stitched to accentuate the design and to keep the stuffing from shifting during use. This antique Mennonite quilt...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American American Colonial Quilts
Materials
Wool
Mixed Media Collage Feminist Lithograph Folk Art Quilt Pattern & Decoration Art
Located in Surfside, FL
Bow Tie
Hand signed and numbered, ,limited edition lithograph collage assemblage.
Barbara Kohl-Spiro is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based artist whose work has spanned over five decades...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Mixed Media
Materials
Fabric, Lithograph
An American Civil War Era African American Southern Quilt From the Deep South
Located in Barrington, IL
This extraordinary hand-stitched quilt, dating to the American Civil War era (circa 1860–1870), originates from the deep South—likely Alabama or Georgia—and stands as a powerful example of African American folk artistry during one of the most pivotal periods in American history.
Crafted from wool and homespun blankets, the quilt features a striking design of diagonally pieced squares composed of repurposed clothing in shades of navy, brown, red, and gray. These textiles are believed to be remnants of garments worn during the Civil War, transformed through necessity and creativity into a work of enduring beauty and cultural significance. The back of the quilt is made from a bold red and gray striped textile, adding a distinctive visual contrast.
Quilts like this—made by African Americans in the Reconstruction-era South—are exceedingly rare and deeply meaningful. They embody both resilience and resourcefulness, and serve as powerful expressions of heritage, survival, and artistic identity.
This particular quilt comes from the collection of a Civil Rights attorney who has spent decades practicing in Alabama and Georgia, with a devoted interest in preserving African American folk art from the Civil War era. Its provenance adds another layer of depth and historical significance.
Highly collectible and increasingly sought after, 19th-century African American Southern quilts are not only valuable artifacts—they are irreplaceable cultural legacies.
Dimensions: 63” x 73”
Date of Manufacture: 3rd Quarter of the 1800s
Place of Origin: Alabama, United States
Material: Cotton, wool
Condition: Good
The Persian Knot, SKU 1982
African American Quilts...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Quilts
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Antique Quilt, Amish Contained Crazy Crib Quilt Mounted
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late but great combination wool and cotton contained crazy quilt is in good condition with minor wear to the binding. This crib quilt was hand sewn on linen and mounted on a str...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Country Quilts and Blankets
Materials
Cotton
$1,196 Sale Price
20% Off
Large Americana Folk Art Pictorial Hooked Rug Wool Wall Hanging Tapestry
By Trudi Shippenberg
Located in Surfside, FL
"RFD Courant",
hooked rug tapestry, rural community with country homes and buildings throughout rolling hills, lush green trees with three-dimensional leaves frame the scene, in the...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Mixed Media
Materials
Fabric, Wool