Contini Shed  "Jacob’s Ladder"

Owners:
John and Barbara Contini

History:

A smaller block is found on this shed owned by John and Barbara Contini and is called Jacob’s Ladder. This 9-patch block of half-square triangles and squares has some controversy to its history. Some quilt historians claim that it was pre-Revolutionary War and was also called by the name of Underground Railroad and used by slaves to lead them to freedom. Present day historian Barbara Brackman points out that no example of a quilt in this pattern has been identified before the beginning of the 20th century. We need to be aware that during the early 20th century quilt history was often romanticized and people did not yet have the guidelines for good quilt history that we use today.

 

 

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