Harriet Powers Story Quilt (Reproduction)

A Smithsonian reproduction of Harriet Powers original “Story Quilt”. Harriet Powers was born a slave and lived near Athens, Georgia. In 1886 when Harriet was 49 years old, she had finished her first quilt to exhibit at the Clarke County Cotton Fair. She combined the African style of applique, with European style stitching to create unique “story quilts” which are preserved today as remarkable pieces of both folk art, and history. Her story quilts depict biblical tales and local histories. She began exhibiting them in 1886 at the Cotton States and International Expo. Her Bible Quilt is at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and Pictorial Quilt is at Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Techniques: Machine pieced, hand appliqued and quilted
Credit Line: Gift of Jackie Greenfield