The Pieced Quilt: An American Design Tradition

by Jonathan Holstein

Holstein, Jonathan, The Pieced An American Design Tradition, New York, Galahad Books, 1973, first edition, 4to (11.25" x 10"), Hardcover, orange boards in black dj w/ color quilt illus., 187 pp. 96 color plates, 59 b/w illustrations. Richly illustrated survey of quilt making that goes beyond the perception of this activity as a folk craft, exploring the ways in which it allowed American women to express themselves abstractly.

Genres: Quilting, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Erika Mulvenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A FANTASTIC book chronicling the "rich, colorful survey of the inventive genius of American women who created cloth 'paintings' that often rival in impact the works of artists today." Important for those who are interested in the roots of American quilting, and phenomenal inspiration for modern quilters of today.

[Edie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have serious conflicts with this books. It’s one of the first that considered quilts as works of art. The author proposed some fascinating formal analysis. But this was written in the early seventies and some of the background material dated badly.

Still, the photographed samples are stellar. So I recommend with reservations.

[Louise Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most important quilting book of all times. It catalogs the 1973 exhibit "Abstract Design in American Quilts,” curated by Jonathan Holstein and Gail van der Hoof at the Whitney Museum of American Art. This was the first time quilts were viewed as an art rather than a craft form and paved the way for the entire quilt revival movement that is so active today.

[Thorn MotherIssues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good history and pictures. I really enjoyed this.