Antique 1880s Trip Around the World Quilt Exceptional Condition 79\" x 82\" For Sale

This extraordinary quilt is composed of 1,225 individual printed cotton squares arranged in 35 rows by 35 rows, creating the dramatic concentric diamond pattern associated with the classic Trip Around the World design.

The fabric assortment is exceptional. Rich chrome yellow, red, pink, blue, deep green, brown and madder-toned cotton prints are combined with small florals, dots, geometrics and other wonderful period designs. The colors remain remarkably vivid and saturated.

The amount of planning and work involved in creating a quilt of this complexity is tremendous. Each of the 1,369 squares had to be selected, cut and carefully arranged to build the repeating diamond pattern, followed by assembly of the quilt top and extensive hand quilting.

The finished result is a striking piece of 19th-century American folk art as well as a wonderful document of period textile design.

The quilt is hand quilted throughout, with the quilting clearly visible across both the front and reverse.

The condition is truly exceptional.

This quilt appears to have been carefully stored for most, if not all, of its life and has never been washed. The fabrics remain extraordinarily crisp, clean, strong and vibrant throughout, with no rips, holes or tears noted.

I found only one very small localized area of discoloration on the surface of a yellow fabric square near the outer edge, shown clearly in the close-up photographs. The fabric itself appears intact, and the mark looks superficial. Otherwise, I found no additional spotting or condition issues.

For an antique textile approximately 140 years old, the state of preservation is remarkable.

The reverse is every bit as impressive as the front.

Rather than a plain backing, the quilt has a beautifully pieced period backing composed of wide vertical bars of several different printed cotton fabrics. These include striking large-scale paisley, floral and ornamental designs in rose, brown, cream, blue and green.

The backing fabrics remain just as strong, crisp and beautifully preserved as those on the front. The bar-style construction creates an entirely different visual effect on the reverse, making this quilt especially appealing from either side.

Measures approximately 79x 82 inches.

This is an exceptional example for a collector of antique quilts, historic textiles, American folk art or 19th-century printed cottons. Its generous size, dramatic design, extraordinary assortment of period fabrics, 1,369-piece construction, hand quilting, remarkable pieced backing and outstanding state of preservation make it a particularly special survivor.

Antique quilts and textiles naturally may show fading, spotting, discoloration, irregularities or other evidence of age and use. These characteristics are commonly found in authentic antique textiles and contribute to their individual character and charm. This particular quilt has survived in unusually crisp and well-preserved condition.

Please review all photographs carefully, including detailed close-ups of the fabrics, hand quilting, and pieced backing.

Striking in person!