Veteran's Quilt

About the Item

Title: Veteran’s Quilt Region / Tribe: Oklahoma / Cherokee circa mid-20th century Material: Cotton cloth, thread Dimension: L. 96” x W. 67” Condition: Overall excellent, minor soiling in one corner, no restoration Collection History: Collected in Oklahoma and said to have been acquired directly from a Cherokee family. No documentation. Comments:The prominent Native American Church eagle and other patriotic symbols suggest a dating circa WWII. The eagle / thunderbird design was adapted as the military insignia for the 45th Infantry division in 1939. The eagle design replaced the ancient swastika that fell into disfavor durning the nazi era. The swatstika here appears ironically on the bombs with arrows directed at the enemy. In Addition to the prominent images and symbols displayed, i.e. the central Native American Church eagle, the propeller, bombs and swastikas, there are less easily interpreted elements, in particular the interior framing lines and the large round circle with hearts which may symbolize a peyote button. In the white on white and the blue on blue stitch work, there are fleurs-de-lies, hearts, stars, and floral meanders with fruit (?). These images suggest a veteran’s quilt with allegorical details. It appears to have been lovingly (hearts) made for a patriotic (stars) serviceman; a participant in the Native American Church who perhaps served in France (fleur-de-lies) against the Nazis in or with the Air Corps, possibly the 45th Infantry Division. It is an extraordinarily dense visual document of Native American tradition and acculturation. References: To Honor and Comfort: Native Quilting Traditions, ed. Marsha L. MacDowell, see pp. 50-51 and p. 170 for a Veteran’s Quilt with patriotic star motif.

Attributed to:

Cherokee Indian (Artist)

Dimensions:

Height: 96 in (243.84 cm)Width: 67 in (170.18 cm)Depth: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)

Materials and Techniques:

Cotton

Place of Origin:

United States

Period:

Mid-20th Century

Date of Manufacture:

Mid-20th Century