Artwork Details
Alternate Titles
Artist
Unknown
Nationality
Creation Date
Materials
Object Types
Dimensions
104-1/2 x 105-1/2 in.
Mark Description
Signed, near center of each of 20 squares, by friends and family of Eli Lilly: Top row, left to right: Magdaline Emmart Balto. Co. / Caleb F. Lilly / Maria Johnson / Evan Lilly / Elizabeth Adeline Emmart Second row, left to right: Ann Emmart / [no inscription] / Mary Ann Seymour / Emily Jane x Lilly . Balto. Co / [no inscription] Third row, left to right: [no inscription] / Gustavus Lilly / [no inscription] / Amanda Barnett Balto. Co. / Edwin Lilly Fourth row, left to right: Rachel Wolf Balto. Co. / Eli Lilly / Bell [or Bill] Barnett. Wheatland Balto. Co / Abel Seymour / Wm A. Disney / Bottom row, left to right: A. Josephine Ridgley, Clay Hill Balto. Co. / Mary Luth George / Minerva Ann Lilly / Madaleine Barnett / [no inscription]
Accession Number
Credit Line
Gift of Louise Emerson Francke, a great great granddaughter of Eli Lilly of Baltimore County, Maryland
Copyright
Collection
Color Palette
Provenance
Louise Emerson Franke, Maryland;{1} given to the Indianapolis Museum of Art in 1996. {1} Louise Emerson Franke is the great-great-granddaughter of Eli Lilly of Baltimore County, Maryland.
Gallery Labels
When contemplating the future of the Lilly Quilt, I felt that Indianapolis might be its natural resting place because of the Eli Lilly Family. A strong secondary reason for placing the quilt in Indianapolis was climate. As I left New York City, I did not want to bring this wonderful piece of history to Florida’s neotropical environment. I am happy that it has found its natural home at the IMA.
-Louise E. Francke
Album quilts were very fashionable between 1840 and 1860. Album quilt blocks were made and signed by a number of women, and the quilt was presented to an honored recipient. This historically significant quilt was signed by friends and family of Eli Lilly (1780-1847) at his bedside during his final illness. He signed the block with the lyre, and his third child (father of Colonel Eli Lilly, who founded Eli Lilly and Company) signed the block above the lyre. Minerva Ann Lilly, the ninth child, signed the bottom block with the fruit basket. The donor, Mrs. Louise Emerson Francke, is her great-granddaughter.
Exhibition History
Exhibition Name
Venue
Dates
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