Art Institute of Chicago

Quilt Top

United States

Date

1900/20

Medium

Cotton, plain weave; engraved-roller printed; fulled; pieced with cotton, machine stitching; embroidered with cotton in long-armed cross stitches

Culture

United States

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This quilt top is made from fabric premiums, rectangles of printed cotton fabric often given away by tobacco companies. The pieces of fabric either came with a purchase or could be redeemed with coupons collected from packages. Companies often designed their premiums in sets, such as the flags, blankets, and carpets used here, to incentivize consumption and encourage brand loyalty. In the early 20th century, magazines and tobacco companies encouraged women to collect these premiums and transform these common materials into items for everyday use in the home.

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